Franciscan Ministries transfers housing units

Franciscan Ministries Inc., an affiliate of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, has completed the transfer of ownership of 3,666 housing units, including those in five properties in Wisconsin, to Mercy Housing Inc.

The properties include Marian Housing Center in Racine, Assisi Homes Jefferson Court in Milwaukee, Assisi Homes of Neenah in Neenah, and Assisi Homes Saxony and Assisi Homes in Kenosha.

Villa St. Clare, an assisted living center in Neenah, and Bethany Apartments, 12 units of transitional housing in Racine, were not included in the transfer.

Mercy Housing, founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1981 and based in Denver, is one of the country’s largest affordable housing organizations.

It owns and manages three properties in Milwaukee: Johnston Center Residences, McAuley Apartments and St. Catherine Residence. A fourth residence, which will have 100 units, is under construction.

“We are deeply honored by the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters’ decision to entrust us with the stewardship of their housing ministry, and are committed to carrying on their legacy,” Jane Graf, president and chief executive officer of Mercy Housing, said in a statement.

Separately, the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters transferred their health system’s operations in southeastern Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois to Ascension, Mercy Health Network and Northwestern Medicine.

“The decision came after a long deliberation process,” Sister Pat Norton, chair of the sponsor member board for Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, said in a statement. “As the Sisters age and our numbers decrease, we wanted to transfer our corporate ministries while they are healthy, fiscally sound, and have a strong sense of mission and values. We chose Mercy Housing to assume stewardship of our housing ministry to ensure the continued health of these communities.”