Mark Winkeller has been in the real estate business for more than 25 years and joined Caritas Communities, a nonprofit that provides men and women with permanent affordable housing, in 1997. Under Mark’s leadership, an aggressive acquisition program has transformed Caritas into the largest owner of Single Person Occupancy properties in Greater Boston. Caritas Communities has worked closely with MHSA for years; Caritas manages all of MHSA’s Home & Healthy for Good–Boston properties and is involved in the new Home Front program that provides housing to chronically homeless veterans in Greater Boston. Mark holds a PhD in Social Welfare Planning from Brandeis University’s Heller School.
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1. Tell us about your connection to MHSA and the MHSA mission to end homelessness.
I met MHSA President and Executive Director Joe Finn years ago after I joined Caritas Communities. Joe was Executive Director of Father Bill’s Shelter at the time. Joe was very helpful with a project that Caritas was acquiring in Quincy Center in the face of some local opposition. Caritas had historically focused on housing the “working poor,” many of whom had been living in homeless shelters.
As I got to know Joe, his eloquence and deep commitment to the homeless resonated with both me and my Board of Directors. Four years ago, we were delighted at the opportunity to work directly with MHSA to provide housing for over 40 chronically homeless individuals.
We have learned a lot from Joe and the MHSA staff and are even more delighted to partner again in a program to provide housing for 15 homeless veterans.
2. What fuels your interest in ending homelessness?
My interest in homelessness is fueled by my academic background in social welfare planning, my work in the for-profit real estate industry and my 15 years of providing affordable housing at Caritas Communities.
To many people, homelessness is seen as some sort of conscious choice. To anyone who works with the homeless—especially in light of our weakened economy, with rising rents and static or declining wages—it is often a “choice” made by others, not by the homeless themselves. Rich or poor, single or divorced, physically ill or uninsured, challenged by substance abuse or mental health problems, we all share some risk of homelessness.
No one should be living in the street; it is a dangerous, life-threatening and unpleasant place to be. Even in our weakened economy, we have so much wealth that failing to end homelessness is simply unacceptable.
3. What connections do you see between the real estate business and the nonprofit sector?
The real estate business has been a strong supporter of nonprofit work, particularly supportive housing for both those with extremely low incomes and those who are homeless. Real estate executives as well as entire companies have donated money and volunteers to organizations such as Caritas Communities and MHSA.
Ending homelessness requires a combination of real estate expertise to successfully develop appropriate housing that is well-designed, well-located, well-run and affordable, as well as the capability to bring supportive services to the residents who need them.
4. What have been some of your biggest goals at Caritas Communities since you became executive director?
Since I was fortunate enough to be hired as Executive Director 15 years ago, my goals have been as follows: increase the number of individuals Caritas can house by dramatically increasing the number of properties we own and widening the geographic areas that we serve; enhance existing ties and create new relationships with public and private supporters of affordable housing; expand our abilities to provide housing for homeless individuals, including veterans; and form close relationships with agencies that provide the appropriate social service support for the residents that we house.
5. What does this award mean to you?
In my view, this is really an award earned by all of us at Caritas Communities, and is by no means one that any single person at Caritas earned.
This award means that the vision our founder P. Leo Corcoran had in 1985 rings true today. We, and others like us, need to step up, do the right thing and provide high quality housing and services to individuals who, for whatever reason, are unable to secure decent, safe and affordable housing.
We are delighted to be honored for our accomplishments. We are also humbled by the knowledge that much more needs to be done to finally put an end to homelessness.
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MHSA will be honoring Mark Winkeller, as well as Philip W. Johnston of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation and Pamela Feingold of Eastern Bank, at Home for Good: Solutions Start Here on May 16. Home for Good, a cocktail reception and awards presentation with hearty hors d’oeuvres, is MHSA’s ninth annual fundraising event. Join us for this elegant event at the Omni Parker House Hotel from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on May 16. To buy tickets, click here.
The Massachusetts Senate Committee on Ways & Means released its Fiscal Year 2013 budget recommendations today. The Senate Budget allocates $1.4 million to the Home & Healthy for Good line item (7004-0104), instead of the $2.2 million funding level proposed by the Governor’s Budget.
Posted by MHSA 
