Our mission is to support other organizations that provide specialized social services to assist people with disabilities, veterans, homelessness, emergency shelters and help people obtain homeownership by using our company’s extensive knowledge and ability to acquire real estate.
Clear the Way Supportive Housing Corp. is a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 corporation formed in 2017 by founders and members of LIREIA (Long Island Real Estate Investors Association) Melissa J. Shea, John M. Shea III, and Michael Mulholland out of a commitment to help close the disparaging gap of the lack of quality affordable housing for the homeless, and disabled by partnering with city, state, and community-based supportive service agencies to obtain homeownership and independent living.
Clear the Way Supportive Housing Corporation provides real estate for individuals and families faced with disabilities, low income, and or homelessness. The scope of their program is to provide emergency, transitional and permanent housing for other not-for-profit organizations that provide specialized social services; to provide opportunities for affordable housing for those that find it difficult to obtain homeownership; and to provide a good quality of life for people in distress due to mental, physical or emotional disabilities, or substance dependencies or homelessness.
In just one year, Clear the Way Supportive Housing Corp. purchased and renovated three distressed properties in Nassau County housing over 100 individuals and families for emergency housing and transitional housing. In one year, 53 individuals and 34 families were able to leave the emergency shelter and find employment or permanent housing.
Looking forward, the company’s goal is to establish 100 new single-family home purchases for their Lease Option Homeownership Program and an additional 100 homes to lease to other not-for-profit organizations that give supportive services to the local community. To date, they are in contract with twenty-seven supportive homes in Memphis, Tennessee and in the process of renovating two transitional houses in Nassau County, named John’s House and Ruth’s House.
“We believe that everyone should have the opportunity for financial independence and for many that start with homeownership. We can help others to rebuild their lives, through education and setting an example,” says Melissa. This belief is embedded in the company’s name which John named after the Irish battle cry of “Faugh a Ballagh” meaning to clear the way for future generations to build upon. For many homelessness is a battle and the company hopes to Clear the Way for many.
The founding members of Clear the Way Supportive Housing Corp. have over 35 years of combined experience in real estate. Each one passionately advocates for people with disabilities, disenfranchised, and who are home-threatened. Over the years, they have connected with many supportive service agencies and know all too well the overwhelming lack of housing and the devastation this leads to.
Founders
Melissa J. Shea has been an entrepreneur, business owner, licensed broker, loan officer, and real estate investor for over 15 years. She is the President of the Long Island Real Estate Investors Association (LIREIA) and has created a private personal portfolio of over 400 units. Melissa is a licensed loan officer and real estate broker in the state of New York. Her strength is in structuring deals for investors, especially with purchasing distressed assets. She has completed over $100 Million in real estate transactions. Melissa has raised millions in funding for various real estate projects and has a large network of national operators throughout the United States. She is a mom of eight children three of which have Autism Spectrum Disorder with her husband John.
John M. Shea III is a licensed contractor and has been a manager since 2006. He has been responsible for oversight of over 100 rehabs in different states. He plays a key role in inspecting and overseeing the construction, renovations, and management of the distressed purchased properties. He ensures that the portfolio is performing at its optimal level while maintaining the high standard of quality housing. He also coordinates with local property managers and sponsors in various cities. He is a dad of eight children with his wife Melissa.
Michael Mulholland has over 25 years’ experience in finance and risk management as the Director of Treasury Operations for Credit Suisse Bank. In addition, Mike has 20 years’ experience in real estate investing. He has participated in 25 deals with renovating properties, commercial projects, apartment buildings, and private money lending. Mike is a licensed real estate agent and managing director of Diamond Shamrock Real Estate Development Corp.
Guy Fortt holds a master degree in Sports & Entertainment Management from Columbia University. He works with organizations, coordinating outreach efforts, strategizing partnerships, evaluating brand effectiveness, and advising on management and fundraising efficiency. He currently serves as the Chair of the Community Engagement Committee for the NAACP, sits on the Alum board for the Black Alumni Council (BAC) at Columbia University and is a former White House Stakeholder MBK Community leader for President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative. Mr. Fortt’s strength is in connecting people and solving problems while always focusing on sustainable and actionable outcomes.
Dr. Tabitha B. Fortt is a Board Certified Family Physician based in Stamford, Connecticut. She’s a graduate of Fairfield University and Georgetown University School of Medicine who completed her residency training at Columbia University’s Program in Family Practice-Stamford Hospital and served as the medical coordinator for Stamford Community Health Center for five years. As the senior physician, Dr. Fortt leads the clinical staff in the clinical staff in the initiation of a Homeless Healthcare Clinic.
The Motivation:
The formation of Clear the Way Supportive Housing Corp initiated when it was evident that the need for housing was greater than the local agency’s ability to service its clients. It took a distressed phone call to a Long Island Real Estate Investment Association (LIREIA) member about a homeowner who needed help with a house that was used to service-disabled people. From the onset, Melissa was shocked and utterly disgusted by the deplorable conditions of the property and moreover by the unsanitary, unsafe, and neglectful manner the disabled tenants were forced to habitat. She and members of LIREIA immediately took action, relocated the tenants to safer living conditions, took over the house from the existing owner, and planned the rehabilitation of the property. With the intent on selling the house upon the completion of the rehabilitation, she pulled her real estate and construction team together and outlined the plan. However, the plan changed when the town of Nassau County informed her that they needed emergency housing for 1100 families and asked if LIRIEA would be interested in partnering with other not-for-profit agencies. The agencies would provide supportive services while LIREIA provided the houses. Nassau County was familiar with the LIREIA’s work and knew it would be a good fit. This was a perfect synergy for Clear the Way Supportive Housing as it aligns with their goals. Melissa and John have been committed to helping disabled people as they understand all too well the needs being parents of three disabled children. An example that demonstrates how Clear the Way Housing Supportive Housing, Corp. was effective in keeping to its mission, was when Clear the Way Supportive Housing, Corp. was called upon to help an individual person suffering from terminal cancer who was facing eviction from his coop that he had been residing in for over 40 years. Although his coop had no mortgage and was valued at approximately one million dollars, he was unable to pay the monthly maintenance fees of $900 a month. They fought for him while he was undergoing treatments and three years later they have been successful in keeping him in his home. This experience so moved them; they named the first emergency shelter house they purchased after him. Daniel’s House was established in 2017 as the first supportive services home under Clear the Way Supportive Services Housing Corp. They have since gone on to open two more houses named after biblical names such as John’s House and Ruth’s House.