MHUCC, Green Manor, & Affordable Housing

Green Manor began as an act of imagination and faith.

In 1966, the pastor of Mission Hills and three church members toured a newly built apartment tower for low-income seniors next to Grace Lutheran Church in Hillcrest. The building had been financed through the newly created Department of Housing and Urban Development. When they returned home, they asked a simple but bold question: Why couldn’t our church do that too?

Among those on that visit was longtime church member Lawrence Green. He had been part of the congregation for forty years and possessed both deep faith and considerable resources. When the possibility of building housing near the church emerged, he quietly purchased and held land one block away at Fort Stockton and Ibis. The building would later bear his name: Green Manor, named not for pasture or scenery but for the man whose generosity made it possible.

With land secured, the vision took shape. HUD financed the 13-story building with a $1.5 million loan through the Section 202 program, which helped nonprofit organizations build affordable housing for seniors.

The church itself also took on real risk. As part of the agreement, it committed to help cover operating expenses for the first five years if the building could not sustain itself.

What is often forgotten today is the level of courage this required. When Green Manor was first built, federal housing programs often required the sponsoring organization to stand behind the project financially. Mission Hills United Church of Christ agreed that if the building could not sustain itself, the congregation would help cover operating costs during its early years. More than a few churches stepped away because this was not a symbolic gesture. It was a real financial risk.

Yet the congregation believed something simple and profound: Housing for low-income seniors is a ministry worth risking for.

Construction began in October 1969. Just over a year later, in November 1970, residents began moving in. Over 2,000 applicants waited for one of 150 apartments. The need for safe and affordable housing was overwhelming back then, and continues to be an issue today.

Green Manor will forever be tied to Mission Hills UCC. The church created a nonprofit corporation to oversee ownership and the operations of the property. A governing Board of Directors ensures that Green Manor fulfills its mission.

The pastor serves as a permanent board member, and the majority of directors must come from the congregation, along with valued community members. This structure ensures that the property remains a living expression of the Church’s mission.

In recent years, the Green Manor Board took a bold step forward. Working with an experienced affordable housing developer, the Board was able to recapitalize Green Manor and finance renovations of the building and apartments utilizing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. The Board’s actions generated significant funds to support its mission of creating new affordable housing units and providing support services to improve the lives of our seniors. This rehabilitation of Green Manor ensures another fifty years of service.

The Board still maintains an ownership interest in Green Manor and still owns the land. Following the completion of the tax credit compliance period, approximately 15 years, Green Manor will again become majority owner alongside its development partner, RAHD.