(from left) Ron Saienni, HomeAid Orange County Board Member and Scott Larson, executive director for HomeAid Orange County join California Senator, Joe Dunn and Larry Haynes, Mercy House executive director, at recent Affordable housing Award breakfast where they were presented with the award for San Miguel Residence. HomeAid Orange County's most recently completed shelter development, San Miguel Residence (SMR) received three awards touting the excellence of the project built in tandem by two Lennar Homes divisions. San Miguel Residence is comprised of two structures; first, a two-story 2,700 square foot craftsman style home designed by Bassenian/Lagoni Architects built by Lennar Orange County Homebuilding. And the second, a major rehabilitation consisting of four one-bedroom and one two-bedroom apartment in a Spanish motif designed by Costa Mesa-based firm, Bloodgood Sharp Buster Architects & Planners, Inc. constructed by Lennar South Coast Homebuilding. The first award presented to the project was the Santa Ana Community Building Award, the acquisition of which was due in large part to the efforts of Scott Kutner and George Garcia from the City of Santa Ana Community Redevelopment Agency who got the project in front of the City of Santa Ana's "Celebrate Santa Ana" Resource Network Award Committee. As a result, Mercy House, the project's care provider and the San Miguel Residence garnered the Non-profit Housing Project/Developer of the Year Award recognizing the project's innovative design, financing, management and social services associated with affordable housing projects serving the Santa Ana community. Additionally, San Miguel Residence received the Affordable Housing Award honoring projects, like SMR that meet the goals of the organization by providing affordable housing, health care accessibility, childcare, public education and neighborhood safety. And last, but not least, San Miguel Residence also came away from the Pacific Coast Building Conference (PCBC) with the Gold Nugget Community Spirit Award. To be eligible for this award, the project must have been developed on a largely pro-bono basis (at least 50%) and must also have made a measurable significant benefit in meeting social needs within the community. In the case of San Miguel, a minimum of 20 beds has been added to serve a mix of individuals and families, the majority of which have come from one of Mercy House's transitional programs including Joseph House for homeless men. Two other Mercy House shelters, Emmanuel House serving adults living with HIV/AIDS; and Regina House for homeless women and children - both developed by HomeAid and its partners - will also transition residents into the new project. Congratulations to award recipients San Miguel Residence Builder Captains Lennar South Coast Homebuilders and Lennar Orange County Homebuilders, and to Mercy House for its program leadership and on going support of those in need. San Miguel Residence is the 37th shelter development completed by HomeAid Orange County, the Building Industry Association's charitable outreach established in 1989. For more information contact HomeAid Orange County at (949) 553-9510 or visit www.homeaidoc.org