JACKSONVILLE, FL - Ability Housing, a nonprofit developer of affordable multifamily housing across Florida, today announced that its Village on Mercy community earned national recognition in the Urban Land Institute’s 2025 Awards for Excellence. The Orlando affordable housing community, located at 1766 Mercy Drive, was selected as one of four special mentions from a total of 94 submissions. The special mentions were recognized alongside the 18 finalists; Village on Mercy is the only Florida project among this year’s finalists and special mention honorees.
The 166-unit affordable housing community opened in late 2019, and represents a multi-year partnership between Ability Housing, the City of Orlando, local nonprofit organizations and service providers, early childhood education provider Bezos Academy and neighboring residents and stakeholders who contributed to the Mercy Drive Vision Plan.
Many of the community’s residents experienced or were at risk of homelessness prior to moving in. Through a comprehensive, community-informed approach, Village on Mercy addresses immediate housing needs today — while also surrounding each household with resources, assistance and opportunities to improve their lives. Full-time staff and community partners provide programs ranging from on-site health clinics and job readiness, to financial counseling and a tuition-free early childhood education center. Property amenities also contribute to physical and social health, such as on-site access to Lake Lawne and walking paths.
“Our ultimate goal for Village on Mercy is to eliminate intergenerational poverty among residents — so that the children growing up here today will be empowered to achieve their educational and career dreams,” said Shannon Nazworth, President and CEO of Ability Housing. “This recognition from ULI reinforces the power of partnerships in delivering high-quality affordable housing, and provides a way for communities around the nation to learn more about the impact of our resident-focused housing.”
Ability Housing developed Village on Mercy with a network of partners, including the City of Orlando; Orange County; Ebert Norman Brady Architects; Enterprise Community Asset Management, Inc.; Bank of America; Florida Housing Finance Corporation; and the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida.
ULI began the Awards for Excellence program in 1979 to recognize truly superior development efforts in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Winning projects represent the highest standards of achievement in the development industry — standards that ULI members deem worthy of attainment in their professional endeavors. The Awards for Excellence recognize the full development process of a project, not just its architecture or design—although these elements play an important role. A jury of ULI members chooses finalists and winners. Members of the jury are leaders who represent a broad geographic diversity and many areas of real estate and land use expertise, including finance, planning, development, public affairs, design and professional services, among others.
About Ability Housing: Ability Housing is an industry-leading not-for-profit multifamily rental housing developer dedicated to creating high-quality affordable housing. We invest in communities through properties that enhance their surrounding neighborhoods, improve each community’s quality of life, and connect residents with a network of voluntary support services. For more information, visit AbilityHousing.org