Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH) recognizes that safe, stable, and affordable housing is more than a roof over one’s head—it is a critical foundation for family health and well-being.
BSMH’s commitment to affordable housing was recently recognized by Community Housing Capital (CHC), which honored the ministry with its inaugural Best Non-Bank Investor Award during CHC’s 25th Anniversary celebration at the NeighborWorks Training Institute in New Orleans. The award highlights BSMH as a mission-driven partner whose capital enables CHC to fund housing projects that make a measurable difference in communities.
“Safe, stable housing serves as a foundation for a family’s overall health,” said Kendra Smith, vice president, Bon Secours Mercy Health Community Health. “We know that investing in affordable housing creates lasting benefits for families and communities, and we are proud of this recognition as we continue expanding these efforts.”
Through a $10 million Development Capital Investment with CHC, as part of the Direct Community Investment (DCI) program, BSMH is supporting affordable housing projects in Lorain, OH; Baltimore, MD; and Richmond, VA.
This long-term, low-cost financing expands CHC’s lending capacity, allowing it to re-lend into projects that address housing insecurity and strengthen community infrastructure. The investment underscores how health systems can be catalysts for addressing social determinants of health at scale.
“What makes Bon Secours Mercy Health’s investment so valuable is that it came in the form of long-term, low-cost, fixed-rate capital,” said Cindy Holler, president and CEO, Community Housing Capital. “With that kind of patient, affordable financing, CHC can lend to developers at terms that make affordable housing projects possible and sustainable for years to come.”
For families, secure housing creates the conditions for stability—reducing stress, supporting better management of chronic conditions, and ensuring more consistent access to health care, nutrition, and education. Conversely, housing instability can fuel illness, reliance on emergency care, and long-term physical and mental health challenges.
To date, BSMH’s DCI program has invested more than $33 million across its five-state footprint to support affordable housing. Looking ahead, the ministry is exploring additional investments to further integrate housing and health, promote health equity, and build stronger, healthier communities across its markets.