August Newsletter
Looking back at the month of August, Compass had yet another month filled with wins, successes, and exciting growth as we welcomed new members to our team! August was filled with fun and educational activities, back-to-school events, and meaningful opportunities to strengthen the communities we serve. Building stronger connections among our residents remains one of the core beliefs of Compass’ mission, and this month was a wonderful reflection of that commitment.
Compass celebrated the one-year anniversary of FUND, our Financial Literacy and Eviction Prevention Program! In just one year, FUND has stabilized 39 households, recovered $134,972 in past-due rent for the properties, and prevented an estimated $538,131 in potential eviction costs.
With more than 100 individuals impacted, FUND continues to demonstrate the importance of early intervention, financial support, and keeping residents safely housed. Compass is proud to celebrate this milestone, and the lasting impact FUND has made in our communities!
Defining Affordable also reached an exciting milestone this month by welcoming its first-ever guest! Jacob Billitteri, Senior Project Manager at Affirmed Housing, joined Robin and Jaime for a conversation about transit-oriented development and its powerful role in creating more affordable housing with increased access to public transportation.
Tune in to hear their conversation and learn more about how transit-oriented development can help shape stronger, more accessible communities. Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!
August also brought exciting growth to the Compass team as we welcomed Cleveland Gardner to our Resident Services Team!
Cleveland joins The Helm and Auburn Park as a Resident Services Coordinator, bringing his extensive experience as a case manager and support specialist working with at-risk populations to the residents of these two communities. We are thrilled to have him on the team and look forward to the positive impact he will have on our communities.
As many of our young residents began a new academic year in August, Compass was proud to donate and distribute close to 1000 backpacks, filled with school supplies across ten of our communities!
Residents at Alora, Estrella, Cielo, Symphony, Orange Gardens, The Orchard, 1050B, Shoreline, Mondrian Studios and Skyline were able to choose a backpack and supplies to help them start the school year prepared and excited.
We are grateful to have the opportunity to support our residents and help make the transition back to school a little easier. Here’s to a successful new school year!
We’re also excited to share that construction at Mondrian Studios, formerly known as Studio 15, is making incredible progress! Throughout the construction process, property management and Mondrian’s Resident Coordinator, Xochitl Gonzalez, have been working closely together to ensure residents are supported and able to navigate the changes as smoothly as possible.
We’re excited to see the continued progress at Mondrian Studios and look forward to what’s ahead!
This month, many of the events across Compass focused on creativity. Two great examples are at The Orchard, where residents of all ages came together to create their own one of a kind, tie-dye T-shirts, showcasing their creativity through colorful designs. Meanwhile, residents at The Iris created personalized keychains, with many choosing to add positive and uplifting messages to their creations.
We also put our focus on the mental and emotional well-being of our residents, giving them opportunities to express themselves and connect with their communities. This month, Shoreline launched its very own Multicultural Women’s Support Group, welcoming women of all backgrounds to come together, share, connect, and most importantly, support one another. At Compass, we believe that creating strong communities means making sure every resident feels supported, heard, and connected. We look forward to seeing the many benefits that will come from a group such as this.
Collaborations with other nonprofit partners is one of the keys to our success. A great example of this is our partnership with New LvL, an incredible organization dedicated to empowering single mothers by connecting them with resources in areas such as housing, mental health, education, financial literacy, and more. To find out more about New LvL click here for more information.
Programs like these help foster connection and remind our residents that they are never alone. Building supportive communities is at the heart of Compass’ mission, and we are proud to see that mission come to life across our communities.