b'Poco a pocose anda lejos.MEXICAN SAYING [LITTLE BY LITTLE ONE GOES FAR.]Our foundational work building Latino prosperityDespite an ongoing deep dive into a triage approach to ournonprofits, early learning and care centers and arts & cul-work during the pandemic, 2021s achievements signaledtural institutions are making the ground floors their perma-that MEDA was once again getting back to the basics. Fornent homes. Our team and promotoras also assisted with us, that means creating a mindshift for clients from emer- thousandsofapplicationsforbelow-market-rate(BMR) gency response to equity of opportunity to ensure theapartments, guiding hopeful community members through long-term building of Latino prosperity. Think affordablewhat can at times be a daunting process. There were 140 and stable housing. One-on-one financial coaching and freeelated families who won the City lottery and were given the tax preparation. Strengthening small business or helpingkeys to their brand-new apartments. Looking at the bigger jobseekers land a well-paying position. These programsgoal of homeownership, which creates generational wealth, have long been the cornerstone of our work. 18 of our first-time homebuyer clients purchased a place of their own despite the challenges of being in one of the On the housing front, MEDAs Community Real Estate teamtightest real estate markets in the nation.finished our first two family housing developments, a block apart at 2060 Folsom St. and 2828 16th St. (formerly 1990Our VITA free tax program showcased another strong year, Folsom). Outreaching and leasing up in the middle of thewith both in-person and virtual appointments. There was pandemic drove home the impact of these homes for ouran impressive $5.1 million in tax refunds returned to the low- families. Keeping our communitys ecosystem in place,income communityan average of $2,000 per filer. Addi-6'