Housing stability is a critical social determinant of health and wellbeing and a growing concern in our community especially with a shortage of affordable housing. This is true for many of our families and individuals serving on the front lines in our hospital and health system. Many CHRISTUS St. Vincent hospital associates – particularly those just beginning a career in our community – struggle with limited housing opportunities locally, and the initial and ongoing costs of owning a home. The high cost of ownership also presents a roadblock in the hospital’s efforts to recruit and retain talents.
Anchorum St. Vincent’s new impact investment of $1.6 million will enable more CHRISTUS St. Vincent employees to achieve their dream of homeownership while raising our community’s quality of life.
Our Partnership & Investment
The Workforce Assistance Program is a collaborative, strategic partnership between Homewise, Inc and CHRISTUS St. Vincent, enabled by the financial support of Anchorum St. Vincent.
- Homewise is a local, award-winning Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to creating successful homeowners and strengthening neighborhoods so that individuals and families can improve their long-term financial wellbeing and quality of life.
- CHRISTUS St. Vincent is a northern New Mexico’s only full-service hospital employing 2,300 associates with 154-year history.
- Anchorum St. Vincent is a nonprofit Community Health Impact Organization that is re-imagining health and well-being in Santa Fe and northern New Mexico.
Our Partnership & Investment
The Workforce Assistance Program is a collaborative, strategic partnership between Homewise, Inc and CHRISTUS St. Vincent, enabled by the financial support of Anchorum St. Vincent.
- Homewise is a local, award-winning Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to creating successful homeowners and strengthening neighborhoods so that individuals and families can improve their long-term financial wellbeing and quality of life.
- CHRISTUS St. Vincent is a northern New Mexico’s only full-service hospital employing 2,300 associates with 154-year history.
- Anchorum St. Vincent is a nonprofit Community Health Impact Organization that is re-imagining health and well-being in Santa Fe and northern New Mexico.
The partnership is investing in the well-being of the professionals serving and providing care to our people, increasing options available to them on the path to homeownership so that they can live in the community where they work. This in turn means greater ability for our health system to attract and retain associates to ensure long term health and wellbeing of our residents. Home is a foundation for everyone to thrive, and that includes our caregivers.
Investing in our workforce
"Two thirds of Santa Fe employers believe that the shortage of affordable housing is one of the most critical issues facing the city today.”
- Homewise 2007
As the 50% owner of the CHRISTUS St. Vincent hospital that employs approximately 2,300 associates across northern New Mexico, Anchorum St. Vincent is committed to supporting the hospital as a great place to work for all its employees. Investing in workforce housing assistance program is a smart way to have a positive impact in employee recruitment, satisfaction, and retention, as well as supporting long-term community growth and wellbeing.
Since 2012, our initial investment of $2 million in the Homewise Employee Housing Program for CHRISTUS St. Vincent employees in partnership with the hospital has already helped over one hundred associates achieve home ownership with down-payment assistance, low cost second mortgage loans, and access to numerous financial literacy programs.
Now, as part of its ongoing strategic support of CHRISTUS St. Vincent, Anchorum is once again investing in this innovative, employee-focused program run by Homewise with $1.6 million additional impact investment. By improving access to housing, we’re helping our local caregivers to thrive—and building the long-term health of our community and its people.
CHRISTUS St. Vincent Workforce Assistance Program
Melissa and her husband Caleb used the Workforce Assistance Program throughout their home buying experience, from the introductory class on the home buying process to the competitive financing provided by Homewise.
The robust program will have a four-pronged approach to lift barriers to homeownership for working families who work at any of the northern New Mexico locations of the CHRISTUS St. Vincent.
The CHRISTUS St. Vincent Employee Housing Assistance and Financial Education Program provides:
- Down Payment Assistance Loans
- Second Mortgage Loans
- Matched Savings Accounts
- Financial Literacy and Homebuyer Coaching
Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Loan Program
A maximum of $5,000 down payment assistance will be offered in the form of 0% interest deferred payment loan. DPA amount will be matched 2:1 based on employee’s own down payment contribution.
Second Mortgage Portfolio Loan Program
A second mortgage loan will be offered at the interest rate will be the same as the first mortgage loan, or 5%, whichever is higher. Home must be in the following counties: Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Taos, Colfax, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel.
Matched Savings Program
The program will offer matched savings up to $500 when employee contributions reach certain saving milestones. Employees must attend Homewise financial education and coaching sessions in order to enroll in the program.
Financial Literacy and Homebuyer Coaching
The classes and one-on-one coaching sessions are designed to provide employees the knowledge and tools to make wise choices in meeting financial demands of homeownership and support their long-term success as homeowners.
"Our contribution in the Homewise program enables more hospital associates to be successful in our community. This collaboration directly helps us fulfill our purpose of supporting CHRISTUS St. Vincent, by strengthening the bonds between the hospital and its associates. It also brings career-oriented talent to our area, which builds a stronger, economically sustainable community."
- Peter Bastone, President and CEO of Anchorum St. Vincent
