About Saint Mary's

History

The organization was originally founded in 1970 by Monsignor Joseph Wingler, former pastor of Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia, as a non-profit tax-exempt 501(c)(4) corporation called Saint Mary's Housing Corporation. In 1978, Saint Mary's Housing Corporation developed, constructed, and still owns Evergreen House, a 246-unit HUD Section 8 community in Annandale, Virginia. The following year, another 501(c)(4) non-profit was formed to develop Marywood Apartments, a 129-unit HUD Section 202/Section 8 property in Manassas, Virginia. Both properties serve independent, low-income seniors, 62 years of age and older.

The success of Evergreen and Marywood led to development of three additional communities for low- and moderate-income seniors in the late 1990s, financed in part with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs):

• Madonna House at Belmont, 130 units in Fredericksburg, opened in 1998
• Wingler House I, 132 units in Ashburn, opened in 1999
• Wingler House II, 132 units adjacent to Wingler House I, opened in 2003

However, as the organization had no true parent entity in charge of all five of these properties, a new 501(c)(3) non-profit was created in 2023 to serve in that capacity as well as to develop new and/or acquire existing communities for low- and moderate-income seniors in the region in the future. In sum to date, SMCI and its affiliates have developed and currently operate five communities totaling 769 units.

Leadership

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John D. Spencer, Executive Director
As Executive Director of SMCI, Spencer leads the organization's development of new affordable housing projects and asset management of existing communities. Prior to joining SMCI in December 2021, Spencer served 28 years as Senior Vice President and CFO of Victory Housing, Inc. of Rockville, Maryland, the non-profit affordable housing development arm of the Archdiocese of Washington. During his tenure at Victory Housing, he facilitated the growth of that organization from three properties with 50 units to 32 properties with 2,352 units, and from $3 million to over $225 million in total assets. Specific roles included financing of new projects, leasing up and asset managing of apartment communities, coordinating public relations (web site, media, events, awards), and implementing changes to financial management systems to accommodate growth.

Spencer founded the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers ("HAND") in 1991, served as President through 2005 and board member until 2021. HAND is a Washington-area regional trade association of affordable housing developers, financial intermediaries, local government, and advocates. He was also a board member (1999 - 2009) and President (2008 - 2009) of the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition. Awards include a Finalist in the Washington Business Journal Awards for Financial Excellence (2008), Lifetime Achievement from HAND (2006), and recognitions from the Maryland House of Delegates (2005) and the Virginia Housing Coalition (2002).

Spencer earned a MBA from the University of Maryland and a BS in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a CPA and Notary Public in Maryland.

jspencer@saintmaryshousing.org