Making Housing and Community Happen
Making Housing and Community Happen (MHCH) is a faith-rooted housing justice and community development organization. We equip neighbors, congregations, and nonprofits with practical tools needed to transform their communities to end homelessness, and to stabilize the cost of housing through education, advocacy, organizing, and advisement.
Heritage Square South: 69 affordable apartment for formerly unhoused seniors
"Making Housing and Community Happen created the atmosphere for making affordable housing happen in our city."--William Huang, former Housing Director of Pasadena
50%
DECLINE IN HOMELESSNESS IN PASADENA
10%
RESIDENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN PASADENA
1,000+
AFFORDABLE UNITS IN DEVELOPMENT
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to tackle California's affordability crisis where skyrocketing housing costs are displacing residents and creating homelessness. Join us in our fight for equitable housing solutions and community revitalization!
OUR WORK
COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION
MHCH has partnered with community members of Northwest Pasadena to create a vision plan that advocates for their priorities: affordable housing, business revitalization and public art to identify this area as a “Black Legacy District.”
EDUCATION & EQUIPPING
We organize Housing Justice Educational Forums and One-Day Housing Justice Institutes. These institutes equip faith communities across the country with practical tools to replicate what MHCH does: get people affordable housing and off the streets.
POLICY REFORM
CAMPAIGNS
We partner with religious and secular groups, providing practical tools and on-the-ground training needed to activate housing justice teams. Together, we have championed policies that secure housing affordability (e.g., inclusionary zoning), advance tenant rights (e.g., rent control), secure land-use rezoning (e.g., SB 4), and prioritize the “right-to-return” for displaced neighbors.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON CHURCH PROPERTY
Through Congregational Land Partners, a nonprofit we birthed, we facilitate access to experts who can help congregations navigate the journey of building affordable housing on their underutilized land.
ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES
We seek to address the root causes of the housing crisis and restore housing justice at the local level through long-term solutions. This means asking why there so many people are homeless in our community, why the cost of housing is unattainable, and what we can do about it.
FAITH-ROOTED APPROACH
We are faith-rooted, each of us operating from our own faith perspective and pursuing justice in a spirit of respect for each other, love for our city, and especially for the most vulnerable. All are welcome, including those without religious faith. We believe everyone reflects God’s image. What would a policy look like where everyone is valued and seen as precious?
COLLABORATIVE APPROACH
We believe in the power of collaboration. By partnering with local organizations and residents, we create a united front to tackle the affordable housing crisis.
LONG-LASTING IMPACT
Our efforts lead to enduring improvements in community welfare, fostering resilience and stability for generations to come.
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Clergy Community Coalition
SUCCESS STORIES
Deb Meyer. Broomfield, Colorado
"MHCH's One-Day Housing Justice Institute is exactly what faith leaders in Broomfield, Colorado, needed in our efforts to advocate for and actually create affordable housing solutions in our community. Dr. Shook's grasp on housing policy and history in the US informed us for working with government entities. Her presentation of biblical basis for housing justice fueled us for engaging our congregations and working on behalf of people who work, worship and play in Broomfield that aren’t also able to live in our community. Her tenacity to continue this uphill work inspires us to do the same."
William Huang, Pasadena Housing Director
"Making Housing and Community Happen created the atmosphere for making affordable housing happen in our city."
From 2020-2024, 1,709 affordable housing units were built in Pasadena, including low, moderate income, workforce, and permanent supportive housing. About 10% of all Pasadena households now live in affordable housing—either in an affordable housing unit or receiving rental assistance such as Section 8—and more affordable housing projects are in the pipeline.-- Pasadena Now.
Cynthia Kirby, Chair of Lived Expertise Advisor Panel at Union Station Homeless Services
"I attended a MHCH Housing Justice workshop, became a member of MHCH, and served as their liaison with my church. It has been a blessing to advocate for permanent housing solutions, to be a part of direct democracy, to realize that my voice is powerful. Working with MHCH, I’ve been to City Counsel Meetings, had one-on-one meetings with Councilmembers, spoken with the Mayor—and who am I? Can I do this? I’m a citizen. and a community member, and my voice matters. The advocacy, prayer vigils and sleep-outs on a city-owned site led to approval of 69 units of permanent supportive housing for seniors, and now it’s been built; the work they do works."