 At Mutual Housing California, we develop and operate safe, green and healthy housing that is affordable to working families and the most vulnerable in our communities. But we don't stop there. Our mission is much bigger than providing a place to live. Along with our residents, we are creating environments that value education for all, promote leadership development, and build inclusive communities where everyone's voice is heard and respected. Mutual Housing is a place where people are changing their lives and revitalizing their communities. Our team of site-based community organizers are passionate ambassadors of our mission and are at the heart of Mutual Housing's work with residents. When I'm working with our residents one-to-one, I really discover a lot about them that is really not heard from the outside. I hear about their stories, where they've come from, how they get to where they are now. And there's a common theme in their stories is that there's some struggle that they've started off with and that's how you discover who they are and where they came and how they got here is through that struggle. We serve the most vulnerable people who are experiencing difficulty finding safe housing that fits into their budgets, including immigrants, seniors, veterans, persons with disabilities, and the formerly homeless. I've learned to have a little bit broader idea of what it means to need affordable housing. I think that there's a stigma that goes along with it that is really misinformed. And the people that I've met in this community and other Mutual Housing communities are hard-working, intelligent, honest people who just by some circumstance have needed a little support to get to the next place. And I wish that people could understand that because it's a fantastic investment to improve the whole community. Before we came to O'Andale Mutual Housing, we were living at my cousin's house and it was my cousin and her two kids and her husband and then Felicity and I. And then it was fine for a couple of months and then it came to the point where it was time for us to look for somewhere else to live. So I put in some applications, but I wasn't accepted to any of them due to my credit score or because I didn't have enough money for them, period. So I applied for a program that's based out in here in Davis which is called Davis Community Meals. So Davis Community Meals has partnered with Mutual Housing and at O'Andale Mutual Housing they are able to have five families live at O'Andale reaping the benefits of living at a Mutual Housing Development. Living at O'Andale Mutual Housing has provided a financial security for myself. It's not like how it was when I was living with my cousin where I had no money for anything. I have money for everything now. Even the small things that don't seem as important, they're really important. I get to take her to the Children's Museum and I have enough gas to get there. I have the money in order to get us in and I have the money to get us home. Since I moved here a little bit over a year ago and it is with just me, my daughter and my grandson, my 11-year-old grandson. It is a sense of security and safety. I don't have to worry. I have peace of mind when I leave and when I come back home. Just to be able to come together as a community with my neighbors. It's more like a big family and everyone knows each other. In neighborhoods where I used to live, I was always very overly protected about letting my grandson go outside to play. I don't worry about that here. There's been times when the kids come out in front. It's nice because you see doors opening because all the parents are coming out. And I know all my neighbors. I feel like I can age in place and that's what I would like to be able to do as I get older. There's a lot of nice people in the park that will allow that in the community. Over the past year we launched an organization-wide initiative to create a culture of college in all of our mutual housing communities. Our vision is that every child who lives in a mutual housing community will grow up with the innate belief that college is within their reach. I got involved with the college ambassador program because I am a college student myself. And I know the importance of education. I have an 11-year-old grandson who I want him to graduate from school and go to college not as something that he has to choose, but something that will come naturally to him. And I joined this program because I know how important education, I understand how important education is in today's world and how fast technology is taking over and without it. A lot of our kids, if they don't have this education, they'll get left behind. One of the things that's super important for me is to be able to finish college and get a bachelor's and get a master's. I'm gearing toward library science and technology. And I'm really excited to be able to continue on that path when I start in the spring of 2017. I wouldn't have been able to do that if I didn't have a place like Owingdale to live at. I'm able to work part-time as a mom single at this great job through the Davis Library, but still be able to afford my own place to live, the vehicle, and now I'm going to be able to go back to school. Being able to do that means so much to me because I value education and I want to be able to be that great role model for my daughter and I want her to be able to pursue education with ease and comfort just like I'm finding that I'm able to do as well. We live in here in Neutral House in California and River Garden in the States. Our dreams or our goals basically to live it as a family to try to give them more education. So we can see our future going to school, try to give them probably college, university, or a career if they want it. We can see we have progress to go ahead doing some like little bit saving money for the future of them. That's amazing for me and maybe for some other families around. Mutual housing's communities are more than just a place to live. They are hubs where lifelong leaders are created, families are strengthened, and neighborhoods are transformed. Because I live at O'ondale Mutual Housing, I'm able to really feel like I'm just like everyone else who's living here in Davis. I'm able to go to the grocery stores. I'm able to get involved in the community. I'm able to sign Felicity up through the City of Davis for classes. I'm able to take part in this garden. I'm able to take her to the parks. I'm able to really be in this tight knit community. Since I've retired, I became the Board Member. Well, I was voted in, actually. Voted in to be on the board, the community board in the park. It's just really a new thing for me to be in this leadership role that I'm in as the community liaison, as they say. And so it feels good too. It feels good too. It's helped make me make it my home. It's the people that make mutual housing. It's the community and how they bring themselves together. And they don't, it's not tenant-bound-lord. It's a community. It's like a one great big family where everybody knows everybody and everybody's, you know, willingly and happily, you know, wanting to get involved. And that's it, being involved. I have a lot clearer vision for my future. I didn't really know what to do next before. I was just focused on trying to make sure that I could survive right now. But now I can see possibilities for career growth and maybe getting more education. I think I can look forward and see options. And no matter what I choose, that really brings me a sense of freedom, I feel. I went from feeling kind of basically trapped to feeling like a completely free and independent person. And that's been an amazing transformation. Our residents inspire us daily through their hard work, leadership and choices to create better lives for themselves, their families and their communities. Please join us as proud supporters of these efforts and invest in mutual housing's mission to strengthen communities through permanently affordable housing and resident engagement.