On May 12, Mission First Housing Group and Israel Manor, Inc. celebrated the Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting of Visionary Square, a newly constructed, 4-story senior affordable housing project

Speakers at the grand opening included The Honorable Kenyan McDuffie, Councilmember for Ward 5, District of Columbia; The Honorable Anita Bonds, Councilmember-at-Large for District of Columbia; Reverend. Donald Isaac, Director, Office of Religious Affairs of Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser; Allison Ladd, DC Department of Housing and Community Development; Brian Tracey, Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Sean Jones, Director of Acquisitions for Raymond James Tax Credit Funds; Edmund Delany, Senior Vice President for Capital One Bank; Reverend David Bowers, Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Market Leader for Enterprise Community Partners; Reverend Dr. Morris L. Shearin, Pastor for Israel Baptist Church; Sarah Constant, Managing Director of Mission First Housing Group and Tondalaya G. Reed, Chair for Israel Manor, Inc.

Also known as the Israel Senior Residences project, Visionary Square is the realization of the vision of Israel Baptist Church’s Pastor Morris L. Shearin, Sr. in fulfilling the church’s mission to “reclaim the least, the last, and the lost”. A number of years ago, the church’s non-profit entity, Israel Manor Inc. (IMI), forged a partnership with Mission First Housing Group and The Henson Development Company. This collaboration established and maintained a common goal – to provide affordable housing to one of our most precious, yet underserved populations – the seniors of our community.

Located off of Rhode Island Avenue in the historic Brentwood neighborhood of NE Washington, DC, Visionary Square provides comfort, convenience, and affordably contemporary apartment homes just one block away from the Rhode Island/Brentwood Metro Station and steps away from numerous retail shops, restaurants and businesses. Beautifully woven into the tapestry of Rhode Island Row, Visionary Square offers 47 units of modern, secure, and convenient living for residents 60 and older. The four-story building provides a variety of living quarters ranging from studios to one- and two-bedroom floor plans. In addition, just a few blocks away stands the Rev. Dr. Morris L. Shearin, Sr. Community Life Center that was opened by Israel Baptist Church and Israel Manor Inc. nearly one year ago. The Community Life Center houses Unity Health Care’s new Brentwood Health Center and the Capital City Hall of Distinction ― all designed to provide access to a myriad of services for residents and the community at large. This newly constructed housing and community life center complex is well-positioned to serve as a model across the national landscape.

Sarah Constant, Managing Director of Mission First Housing Group, offered these words: “Every development project is a journey. Visionary Square, in particular, has been a long journey of faith and hope. Without the support and partnership of Israel Baptist Church, Israel Manor, Inc., the District of Columbia and our other financial partners, especially Enterprise Community Partners and their Faith-Based Initiative, who provided the earliest pre-development money, there would be 47 fewer affordable apartments for seniors in this City. We are very grateful that we could bring this vision to reality.”

Commenting on the occasion, Pastor Shearin states “Realization of the vision for senior affordable housing and our partnership with Mission First is a mutual victory for the residents of this community, the ministry and mission of Israel Baptist Church, and the citizens of Ward 5 in this great city. Through this partnership, we hope to continue to be a beacon of hope and empowerment to this community by providing access to much needed affordable housing and ease of access to an array of other life services for seniors.”
Development and construction of Visionary Square was made possible through financing from Low-income Housing Tax Credit, America’s main tool for creating affordable housing, HOME, the largest federal block grant to increase affordable homeownership and rental opportunities, and funding from the District of Columbia’s Department of Housing and Community Development, Enterprise Community Partners, Enterprise Community Loan Fund, Bank of America, Raymond James and Capitol One Bank, NA.

About Mission First Housing Group
Mission First Housing Group develops and manages affordable, safe and sustainable homes for people in need, with a non-profit, mission-driven focus on the most vulnerable. We ensure our residents have access to resources to help them live independently. We deliver housing that provides long-term benefits to residents and neighborhoods, alike. Mission First is a full-service real estate organization developing high-quality, green community assets across the Mid-Atlantic region. Mission First currently provides affordable housing and services to more than 4,000 people in nearly 3,000 units, serving vulnerable populations that include veterans, seniors, survivors of domestic violence and the disabled. More information at www.missionfirsthousing.org.

About Israel Baptist Church
The Israel Baptist Church provides a place for Christian worship that embodies compassion and community partnering. It is a place flourishing with activity that celebrates the strength of family and the advantages of social and restorative justice in the community. The Church has been a pillar in the Brookland-Edgewood-Brentwood communities since 1984. Pastor Morris L. Shearin, Sr. has led the church for 27+ years with a mission statement that declares: Israel Baptist Church (IBC) is called to be a witness for Jesus Christ in the District of Columbia and the world: reclaiming the least, the last and the lost and raising up a people made whole in Christ Jesus.

About Israel Manor Inc.
Israel Manor Inc. (IMI) is the faith-based, non-profit development arm of Israel Baptist Church (IBC). Incorporated in 1996 to expand the mission of IBC, IMI guides and administers the Church’s community development projects and programs intended to provide education, social services and affordable housing to build thriving, healthy, and stable communities in the District of Columbia with a particular focus on Ward 5 and its neighboring communities.

About DC Department of Housing and Community Development
The mission of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is to create and preserve opportunities for affordable housing and economic development and to revitalize underserved communities in the District of Columbia.

About Enterprise Community Partners
We create and advocate for affordable homes in thriving communities linked to good schools, jobs, transit and health care. We lend funds, finance development and manage and build affordable housing, while shaping new strategies, solutions and policy. Over more than 30 years, Enterprise has created nearly 358,000 homes, invested $23.4 billion and touched missions of lives. Join us at www.EnterpriseCommunity.com or www.EnterpriseCommunity.org.