Building Homes, Rebuilding Lives. National housing program that develops and finances affordable, energy-efficient, program-enriched housing for low-income families, seniors and people with special needs.

My name is Ann and I have lived at a Mercy Housing property for 17 months. I came from a place where you have your own room, but you share a bathroom with 11 other women. I was homeless before that. Now I have my own kitchen and my own bathroom - my own apartment! I have my own mailbox. When someone sends a package, they buzz my room to let me know. I'm 45 years old and I finally have my first apartment! But it's more than a roof over my head.

I participate in the art program here. It relieves me to put my stress on paper. I feel like the badness comes out of me. I have a piece I did that has beautiful grass and dandelions blowing in the wind with buildings in the background and a bright clear sky. Things look a lot different when you're on top of a high rise. That is what the building represents to me - the different levels of life. The higher you go - the better your view is and the further you can see out. I think that is true for various things - education, life, job. You can achieve more if you venture out beyond ground level.

I'm working on my Section 8 housing because I know I can make it on my own now. If I'm blessed with my section 8, I'd like to have a corner of a room where I can put up a canvas.