Building on a
Legacy of Care

Sister Stella, Founder

November 11, 1942–December 7, 2010

1995 McCauley Institute Courage in Community Award
2006 Dynamic Woman Award

Anawim Housing’s journey began in 1987 under the watchful eye of Mercy Sister Estella “Stella” Marie Neill, RSM.

She began her ministry at just 17 years old and spent much of her early career working with children and the elderly as a teacher, caregiver, and religious guide. 


For Sister Stella, helping the unhoused was about more than just providing a place for people to stay. It was about strengthening communities, connecting, and changing people’s perception of houseless people by focusing on our similarities.

“I believe those of us who have privilege also have a responsibility to those who do not. Every person has a right to a place to live. We who are privileged by birth or circumstance have the obligation to take the power we have to make that right a reality for every person.”

— Sister Estella “Stella” Marie Neill, RSM

Real-Life Connection

In part, Sister Stella’s passion was rooted in her childhood. Her grandmother was widowed when all four of her children were still minors. Left without resources, she was forced to turn to the help of orphanages. Nine years later, at the age of 14, Sister Stella’s mother married and would go on to have 10 children of her own. Due to a lack of funds and resources, she would have to release her five youngest children to the state, Sister Stella included. 

Years later, when Sister Stella was able to reunite with her mother, she asked her why she released her children. Like countless Anawim families, her mother didn’t know what to do or who could help her, and there was no way for her to care for them. 

This problem is all too common for low-income families and has persisted from the first Anawim-owned duplex in 1989 to the 596 housing units owned by Anawim today.

Building Anawim From the Ground Up

Sister Stella established an organization supported by local politicians and business leaders. She taught herself the ins and outs of local housing policies and the finances behind building a home versus refurbishing an existing building—something she preferred to do anyway in her secondary effort to maintain the histories of the neighborhoods in which she worked. 

This spirit of ingenuity is what allowed her to bring Anawim to such early success, especially at a time when the housing-first model was only just beginning to be recognized.

Continuing Her Legacy

Though Sister Stella stepped down as executive director of Anawim in 2010, and sadly died later that same year, she left an incredible legacy behind. At Anawim today, we still follow the core principles she laid out. 

  • Provide safe and affordable housing for all.

  • Expand support services for those leaving homelessness through our Permanent Supportive Housing programs.

  • Purchase new properties.

  • Maintain and refurbish historic properties within our community.

Join the Effort: Make a Life-Changing Impact

One problem that plagued Sister Stella from Anawim’s inception was that the need continues to outpace what we can provide. As we move forward and look toward the future, Anawim’s goal remains a clear vision of what it was when Sister Stella took on the first home, the same vision that led her to donate her own home for Anawim families in need—that all people deserve a safe place to live, and we as a community must help to provide it to them.