Left to right: Gerald Womack, MHMRA Board Trustee; Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee; Shirley Ann Malonson, Community Leader; Brian Stoker, Sr. Vice President, Amergy Bank; Dr. Steven B. Schnee, Executive Director, MHMRA; Dr. Edward Pringle, HUD Houston Field Office Director; Alexandria Foote, Acres Homes Garden, Inc. board member; Pastor John Jackson; Jo Monday, MHMRA Board Trustee; Eleanor Peyton, Chief, Asset Management, HUD Multifamily Housing, and State Representative Sylvester Turner.

It was a long time coming but well worth the wait. Acres Homes Garden Apartments opened its doors on December 12, 2010, and held its ceremonial open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on June 14, 2012. Attendees included federal and local elected officials, lenders, community leaders and community residents. Acres Homes Garden Apartments is located northeast of Houston at 1909 West Little York Road in one of Houston's oldest communities known as Acres Homes.

Samuel Hom, spokesperson for the Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority (MHMRA) of Harris County, stated, "We are continually grateful to HUD for the funds provided for this development. Without HUD, we could not do the things we do in housing for the disabled. Acres Homes is our 7th disabled project in the Houston Metro area."

MHMRA, developer/sponsor/consultant/management agent, and Acres Homes Garden, Inc., nonprofit owner, received a $1,977,300 Capital Advance grant pursuant to HUD's Section 811 program for the construction of supportive housing for the mentally disabled who are able to live independently. The development is a three-story complex consisting of 14 one-bedroom units, ranging from 515-520 square feet, and one site manager unit.

The sponsor/owner was able to obtain additional funds through collaboration with Amegy Bank and the Federal Homes Loan Bank of Dallas through its Affordable Housing Grant program.

Dr. Edward Pringle, HUD Houston Field Office Director, addressed the audience. "The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is proud to partner with our communities, local, state and federal authorities to collaboratively work toward a sustainable community. Our communities deserve the very best when it comes to growth, safe and affordable housing. Our homeless veterans are steadily increasing in large numbers and they, along with our disabled citizens, warrant our attention to their special needs. Having lost my younger brother recently, a Vietnam veteran, I take special interest in helping disabled citizens who might depend on our services. On behalf of the Secretary of HUD, we pledge to remain partners with our community leaders in helping our citizens."

Left to right: State Representative Sylvester Turner; Dr. Steven B. Schnee, Executive Director, MHMRA; Eleanor Peyton, Chief, Asset Management, HUD Multifamily Housing; Dr. Ed Pringle, HUD Houston Field Office Director; Alexandria Foote, Acres Homes Garden, Inc. board, and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

Dr. Edward Pringle, HUD Houston Field Office Director, speaks to guests and residents.

Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee thanked all the men and women responsible for affording housing affecting communities. She specifically thanked those in attendance including the Board of Directors at MHMRA, Acres Homes Gardens, Inc., HUD, banking institutions, Houston and Harris County Housing Authorities, Harris County sheriff departments, state agencies, state representatives, community activists, police departments and many other agencies who helped to make the event possible. "It shows our enthusiasm to help those in need." She personally thanked HUD for the funding that made the housing possible.