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. Program for this opportunity. run for, these athletes embody Over the past 12 years, the power of the human spirit. volunteer runners have raised You can support an individual RAFT Report, continued from page 1 nearly $500,000 to prevent runner or donate to Team homelessness for thousands reserved for households that included a child under the Metro Housing this year by of families and individuals age of 21. visiting the team page at throughout Greater Boston. bit.ly/TeamMetroHousing2020 The report also highlighted that RAFT likely saved the The impact made by Team Commonwealth of Massachusetts up to $33 million in shelter costs by keeping families out of the emergency shelter system. “RAFT is an important resource for families and individuals at risk of homelessness throughout the Commonwealth,” said Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Janelle Chan. “We are proud to partner with Metro Housing to assist households across the region. Team Metro Housing from (L-R): Cate Henning, Hector Cruz, At the forum, held at MassHousing, eviction prevention Ray Garcia, and Rachel Lodi and housing stabilization experts discussed the impact of programs designed to help families and individuals maintain housing stability.

Metro Housing|Boston @HOME | Winter 2019-20 | page 3 A PLACE TO CALL HOME Expanding Access to Affordable Housing by Congresswoman Katherine Clark (MA-5)

The government has a vital role to together to institute reforms that play in ensuring that all families have provide access to affordable housing for a place to call home. As a member of all. For example, through the Housing the House Appropriations Committee, Choice Voucher Program, commonly I have fought for increases in funding known as Section 8, more than 2 million for housing programs, the preservation low-income families across the country and construction of new affordable pay no more than thirty percent of housing, and support for low-income their income towards rent in the private rental housing. Additionally, I have market. In the Boston metropolitan area, supported legislation that would expand fair-market rent for a two-bedroom the low-income housing tax credit apartment is nearly $2,000. Section 8, by accommodating a wider range of available locally through Metro Housing| low-income tenants and increasing Boston, puts a home within reach for the credit for low-income housing thousands of families. development projects. Housing is so much more than having a However, these programs have not roof over our heads. It provides access kept pace with our needs, as only 25% to good schools, good jobs, reliable of families who qualify for affordable transportation and the security of a housing receive assistance. Housing is place to call your own. It is our shared the largest monthly expense for most responsibility to ensure that everyone families, and for too long, incomes have has access to safe and affordable not kept pace with the rising cost of housing that opens doors to equal and housing. Across the country, nearly together to solve the challenges facing all opportunity. I’m grateful to have half of all renters are rent-burdened, our families. the support and partnership of Metro spending more than 30% of their Housing| Boston, as we work towards income on housing. The data is clear: we In order to address the scale of the a future where everyone has a place to have an affordable housing crisis and challenge we face, we must pursue call home. we need more resources as we work a broad slate of legislation and work

UPDATES FROM BOSTON CITY HALL Metro Housing Congratulates New Members

Metro Housing is pleased to congratulate the new members of the Boston City Council who were elected to office on Election Day in November. We look forward to working with Ricardo Arroyo, , and . There will be another new member of Boston City Council, but the race between at-large candidates and Alejandra Nicole St. Guillen was extremely close and as we go to press the votes are being recounted before the election is certified. Metro Housing congratulates returning members of the Boston City Council.

• President We also thank the following • Annissa Essaibi-George members who are departing the City Council for their dedicated • service to the residents of Boston. • * • Mark Ciommo • Michael Flaherty • Althea Garrison • Ed Flynn* • Timothy McCarthy • Frank Baker* • Josh Zakim • Matt O’Malley* Newly elected members of Boston City Council, clockwise from top left: Ricardo • *Did not have opponents in the election Arroyo, Kenzie Bok and Liz Breadon

Metro Housing|Boston @HOME | Winter 2019-20 | page 4 WAYS TO GIVE TO METRO HOUSING

MAKE A ONE-TIME DONATION COORDINATE A DONATION DRIVE Help us make an impact one individual or Metro Housing goes beyond just getting family at a time. Every gift made helps us people housed. We make sure they fill the needs of families and supplement have the items necessary to transition the work for which there is no other into their new homes. You can help funding. by hosting a donation drive for the bit.ly/DonateMetroHousing following types of items: • Gift Cards MATCH YOUR GIFT For emergency items, including; food, Double the impact of your gift! Go to clothing and basic home goods our website, MetroHousingBoston.org/ to see if you employer •  Support from individuals, match-your-gift Home Goods has a matching gift program. Don’t see Bedding, kitchenware, and businesses, and foundations make your company’s name? bathroom items the difference in allowing Metro Contact your HR department. Housing|Boston to provide the • Children’s Books To start a child’s first home library MAKE A RECURRING GIFT services that help individuals and of books families find a stable place to A recurring monthly gift consistently live and get the help they need supports those families and individuals who need more than just a safe place to to become more economically live, but also need job skills, educational secure and enhance their support, and additional counseling. quality of life. bit.ly/recurringgift DONOR PROFILE: ASENETTA ROWE

Asenetta Rowe became a widow From giving spare change to someone when she was in her early 30’s and she passes on the street to setting up learned the importance of caring for recurring donations to organizations the people around her. A native of like Metro Housing, Asenetta just Jamaica, Asenetta went to school and wants to help as much as she can. became a Certified Nursing Assistant “Every gift we receive is important to so that she could provide for her four Metro Housing because it allows us children. to help families in need,” says Carla Asenetta lives in Boston and has 12 Beaudoin, Director of Development. grandchildren. As a CNA, she has “Recurring gifts like Asenetta’s – witnessed many situations where regardless of size – make an impact as Carla Beaudoin, Development Director at Metro Housing (L) with Asenetta Rowe. people were in need of assistance. She they ensure a stream of funding that can empathize because of the time we can plan on.” If you would like to join Asenetta in earlier in her life when she cared for “There are too many people who are arranging a recurring gift to Metro her four children as a single mother. having a hard time,” adds Asenetta. “I Housing - in any amount – then visit “There are people who are in need and want to share what I have with people our website at bit.ly/recurringgift. I want to help them,” says Asenetta. who need it and give the most of what I can to Metro Housing.”

SOCK IT TO ME! Metro Housing Donates More than 1,200 Pairs of Socks Homeless individuals often walk several miles a day to access food, shelter, and essentials. Healthy feet are an important priority for them (and everyone). Socks are one of the least donated items yet they are the most requested at any shelter or neighborhood clothing resource. During the month of November, employees at Metro Housing held a Sock Drive, donating more than 1,200 pairs of socks to the Parker Hill/Fenway ABCD (Action for Boston Community Development) in Roxbury. The socks will be distributed to those in need during the winter months. Metro Housing’s Inspection Department contributed 300 pairs of socks to our Sock Drive.

Metro Housing|Boston @HOME | Winter 2019-20 | page 5 1411 TREMONT STREET, BOSTON MA 02120-3401 617-859-0400 | METROHOUSINGBOSTON.ORG

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METRO HOUSING|BOSTON helps families and individuals address their housing needs across the continuum toward economic security.

OUR MISSION Metro Housing|Boston mobilizes wide- ranging resources to provide innovative and personalized services that lead families and individuals to housing stability, economic security, and an improved quality of life.

CO-CHAIRS Elizabeth Gruber Cynthia Lacasse

VICE CHAIR Robert Kaplan

CLERK Terry Saunders Lane TREASURER Anne Rousseau

Nader Acevedo Stephen Adamo Kevin Boyle Susanne Cameron May the spirit Yongmei Chen Cassandra Clay of this holiday Philip Dorman Janet Frazier season shine Langley Keyes brightly for you Joseph Kriesberg Mary-Anne Morrison and your family Peter Munkenbeck Richard Muraida Jeffrey H. Packard Artwork by Tavius Winslow, Age 9, Esther Schlorholtz Metro Housing Participant Geoffrey Sherman Donald E. Vaughan Michael Widmer

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Christopher T. Norris 1411 Tremont Street | Boston, MA 02120-3401 | 617.859.0400 | toll free: 800.272.0990 (MA only) | MetroHousingBoston.org