Mercy Housing program puts low-income, first-generation students on path to success

Children and teens at the Trailview Apartments in Bellingham entered the decorated community room Thursday evening to the sounds of applause from several Mercy Housing staff members, some dressed as clowns with their faces painted.

In one corner of the room was a person juggling while in another corner a staff member was rolling out cotton candy. The circus-themed back-to-school night was a way to celebrate help students and their parents unwind and get ready for the upcoming trimester.

Mercy Housing Northwest is an equal housing nonprofit that owns three properties in Bellingham to rent to low-income families. It has a number of programs to support families including its youth educational program called Mercy Scholars.

Mercy Scholars brings in staff to the Trailview and Sterling Meadows properties who specifically focus on the education of K-12 students in these apartment complexes, said Lindsey Karas, resident services and education manager.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mercy-housing-program-puts-low-120000926.html