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Winter 2019-20

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Winter 2019-20 NEWS & UPDATES FROM METRO HOUSING|BOSTON HOME Homelessness Prevention Housing Stability Economic Security Winter 2019-20 HELPING TO PREVENT HOMELESNESS New Report Reveals Metro Housing’s RAFT Program Saves Commonwealth up to $33 Million On the brink of eviction, Eileen and her family found an apartment with the help of Metro Housing, but she was unable to come up with the standard move-in costs. Knowing that Eileen needed just a little bit more help, Metro Housing staff connected her with the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program, known as RAFT. Without this help, Eileen would have been stuck. Instead, Eileen was one of more than 1,700 families that benefitted from RAFT in the Greater Boston region. Administered by Metro Housing, RAFT helps families with a housing crisis so that they can stay in their homes or move to a stable housing situation. Metro Housing released its FY 2019 RAFT Report at a public forum in early December. The report found that this Panelists at Metro Housing’s recent forum on the 2019 RAFT Report (L-R): critical resource served households in all 29 Metro Housing Thea James, MD, Vice President, Boston Medical Center; Chris Norris, Executive Director of Metro Housing|Boston; Eileen Murphy, RAFT recipient; communities. Almost $4.5 million dollars was distributed to Jillian Pinola, Regional Vice President, Beacon Communities; Molly Butman, help with back rent, utility payments, and other expenses. Assistant Director, Housing Supports at Metro Housing; Amy Mullen, RAFT This investment kept 1,710 households stably housed. 525 Manager at the Department of Housing and Community Development of them were individuals newly eligible for RAFT, previously (DHCD); and Sheila Dillon, Chief of Housing and Director of Neighborhood Development, City of Boston. Continues on page 3 2019 CHAMPIONS OF HOUSING Annual Event Honors Community Leaders Key Sponsors for the evening were: Cocktail Reception Sponsor: NEI Metro Housing honored community General Contracting leaders who share our passion and Platinum Sponsors: Bank of America; commitment to affordable housing at State Street Corporation; Winn our Champions of Housing Celebration Development on November 7th. The event, held at the Boch Center-Wang Theater, was Gold Sponsors: Beacon Communities LLC; Corcoran Jennison Companies; attended by 275 people and raised Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation; The 2019 Champions of Housing $409,000 to support Metro Housing honorees (L-R): Robert Torres, Beth Keith Construction, Inc.; National programs. Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Lumber; Peabody Properties, Inc; Pamela Feingold, Eastern Bank; Melissa Fish-Crane of Peabody Superior Plumbing Shelley Hoon Keith and John Keith, Properties and Joe Rettman of NEI Keith Properties, Inc.; Jesse Kanson- Metro Housing extends our sincere Benanav, B’nai B’rith Housing. Honoree General Contracting served as co- gratitude to all of our sponsors and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley was chairs of the event. attendees of Champions of Housing. unable to attend the event. 1411 Tremont Street | Boston, MA 02120-3401 | 617.859.0400 | toll free: 800.272.0990 (MA only) | MetroHousingBoston.org A Message from our Executive Director This year has been exciting and productive. Metro Housing continued its 36-year-long commitment to ensuring that everyone in Greater Boston has a safe, accessible, and affordable home. We advocated for city, state, and federal Suad embraces her brother after not seeing him for nearly four years (L). Two of Suad’s sisters housing policies that benefit households hug their mother after reuniting (R). with extremely low incomes. We situated our colocations in communities where we could METRO HOUSING HELPS REUNITE FAMILY make the most impact. We launched an internal capacity building project to Suad, whose intense story On November 13, Sylvia happiness and tears of joy increase our ability to track programmatic of recovery and housing Kelly and Yanick Dennis when they saw each other outcomes. We raised a record amount search was featured in of Metro Housing’s will be something I will of funds through our signature event, Metro Housing’s 2019 Specialized Intensive never forget.” Champions of Housing, and we fielded five Impact Report, recently Programs & Services Sylvia and her team are athletes who ran the Boston Marathon to received the best news brought Suad and her currently working with raise money for and awareness of Metro of her life. Her siblings mother to Boston’s Logan Metro Housing’s network Housing’s programs. – ages 13 through 18 – Airport for an emotional of property owners to received approval for reunion with their family. We said goodbye to several staff seek an apartment that asylum and were going members who committed decades of their will meet the needs of to be able to join her and professional lives to our mission, and we the family. welcomed new team members who bring her mother in Boston. “To see the Specialized Intensive great passion and expertise to help us It had been more than happiness and Programs & Services advance our work. three years since Suad tears of joy when relies heavily on private and her mother left However, our job will not be complete contributions. It continues Africa –and their family they saw each until every family in Greater Boston has a to operate thanks to – to come to Boston so safe and affordable home. In 2020 we will other will be the generous support that Suad could receive continue to advocate for changes in policy something I will of corporations and medical care after an that will help families address their housing individuals committed attack left her face badly never forget.” needs and reach economic security. to preserving tenancy burned and disfigured. To continue our efforts in helping families — SYLVIA KELLY, by providing services to like Suad’s, which you can read more about Metro Housing was able Metro Housing’s those who need it most. to secure an emergency on this page, we need your help. Please Specialized Intensive Please help Metro medical voucher through consider supporting Metro Housing with Programs & Services Housing provide the Continuum of Care a donation of any size. It is especially assistance to more important during this time of year when (COC) program with “It was an extraordinary families like Suad’s. those who are homeless endure frigid assistance from the City family reunion, “ said temperatures. of Boston’s Department To make a donation, of Neighborhood Sylvia. “This family has visit our website or go I thank all of you for supporting Metro Development. been through such pain to bit.ly/ Housing. From our family to yours, may and sadness for nearly DonateMetroHousing. 2020 bring you joy and good health, four years and to see the and may we get closer to the day that everyone in Greater Boston has a place to call home. SPECIALIZED INTENSIVE PROGRAMS & SERVICES relies heavily on Happy New Year! private contributions. It continues to operate thanks to the generous Chris Norris support of corporations and individuals committed to preserving Executive Director tenancy by providing services to those who need it the most. Metro Housing|Boston @HOME | Winter 2019-20 | page 2 INTRODUCING HOUSING HUB AND GATEWAY Metro Housing provides participants with multiple ways to obtain assistance and information. Starting in fall 2019, Metro Housing re-branded the two primary communication methods for participants and property owners. These two new tools - which we have dubbed HOUSING HUB and LEASED HOUSING GATEWAY - are part of our ongoing effort to continually improve how we provide our services and respond to feedback we receive. INTERESTED IN HOUSING RESOURCES? HAVE A VOUCHER? NEED ADVICE? NEED HELP? [email protected] [email protected] 617.425.6700 617.425.6611 Those seeking information about supportive Tenants and property owners with questions services or general housing advice contact about vouchers and leases contact the Leased the Housing Hub. Metro Housing’s primary Housing Gateway. The Gateway Team was resource that is free and open to the public, established to provide a streamlined response the Housing Hub is a clearinghouse for for participants and owners who need to speak households with any series of housing issues. with a Metro Housing staff member. TEAM METRO BOSTON 2019 IMPACT REPORT Metro Housing|Boston’s Preparing for 2020 Boston Marathon 2019 Impact Report is now Winter is on the doorstep. Metro Housing is enhanced by available on our website. The brutal winds, snow, and the thousands of donors who The report describes our freezing temperatures are have contributed over the years, impact on local families knocking at the door. The and cheered over the miles. and individuals - like Bill, members of Team Metro who for the first time The Boston Marathon connects Housing know what’s in store in more than 18 years has a place to call home. eight Massachusetts cities and as they train for the biggest Or like Kimberly, who through our Green Space towns…and the entire world race of their lives and the program, improved her credit score enabling her in the spirit of competition, opportunity to help ensure that to rent an apartment. camaraderie and community. everyone in Greater Boston will It brings everyday athletes, Across our region, Metro Housing continues have a place to call home. many of whom are connected to stay true to our mission of assisting families Team Metro Housing has been to extraordinary causes, to the to navigate the journey from homelessness running the Boston Marathon same road as elite, world-class and eviction prevention to housing stability to and raising money since 2006. athletes. Together, inspired by economic security. We are greatly appreciative of the strength and courage of the To read the 2019 Impact Report online, go to the John Hancock Nonprofit individuals they run with, and bit.ly/ImpactRep19.
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