NEWS & UPDATES FROM METRO HOUSING|BOSTON HOME Homelessness Prevention Housing Stability Economic Security WINTER 2019 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. MEET LANAII TOLENTINO Lanaii Tolentino leads her colleagues to deliver winter coats to Metro Housing families. (L-R): Keith Williams, Latawnda Brown, Lanaii, Lacynda Lawton, Sasha Clements. In a booming economy where helping families “Finding permanent homes for these families who are homeless transition out of motels to a is the most important part of the job we do, home can be challenging, Lanaii Tolentino takes a yet it is also the most challenging. But once a different approach. family is housed, it is vital that they become stable. Families need employment and child “The worst part of the job is when you care options. They need beds and clothing for In 2012, can’t help someone as quickly as you Metro Housing themselves and their children. And during the want to,” says Lanaii, a seven-year worked with holiday season that we just concluded, with the veteran of Metro Housing. help of many local corporations, we help families 572 FAMILIES Finding housing for some of the get access to coats and Christmas toys and gifts.” IN MOTEL SHELTERS area’s most vulnerable residents Lanaii’s eternal positive attitude might be the key is a daily activity for the Metro that has been REDUCED TO to her success. Housing Program Manager. Utilizing 35 FAMILIES the HomeBASE program which is “No matter where my life’s journey takes me, it in 2019 designed to get families out of motels will always be something that can have a positive and stably housed, Lanaii and her team influence on someone else’s life. The families I are responsible for working with the 35 work with are people who just need a hand. My families at the Waltham motel shelter, part of the attitude is, I have two hands, so why not use one state’s shelter system. Metro Housing has made to help them get up?” great progress in reducing the number of families housed in motels; Metro Housing was working with 572 families in August 2012. 1411 Tremont Street | Boston, MA 02120-3401 | 617.859.0400 | toll free: 800.272.0990 (MA only) | MetroHousingBoston.org A CLOSE LOOK AT INSPECTIONS THESE TIPS Joe Palange, Metro Housing inspector, ARE GOOD PRACTICES checks out the electrical FOR ALL OWNERS: wiring during a recent home inspection. • Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to be sure they are working. • Verify that doors and windows are weather-tight and insulated. • Make sure that windows open and shut without being propped up and that there are locks and screens on all windows. • Handrails are required where there are four or more steps, both inside and outside. • Bathrooms must have a window or a The eight inspectors who perform 19,000 sure that an apartment is safe for tenants, working ventilation fan. inspections each year to ensure that the apartment must meet both federal homes are safe and habitable for our and state standards. • Doors cannot have locks that prevent Section 8 participants are among the a person from exiting a room. Apartments are inspected either once a unsung heroes of Metro Housing. Using year or every other year depending on the • Floors must be free of trip hazards. their knowledge of the latest building owner’s maintenance history. Inspections Bathroom and kitchen floors must be codes and regulations, the inspectors also occur any time a tenant moves into waterproof. work closely with property owners to a new apartment, or when a tenant or ensure the safety of thousands of family property owner has made a complaint. • The heating system must be working members across the region. and available between September 15 Tenants are advised to prepare for their “The job of our inspectors is to make and June 15 at a minimum of 68°F. Hot inspection by checking the items on the water must be available at all times sure people are safe in their homes,” says list at right. and heated to not less than 110°F and Kevin Donaher, Director of Inspectional not more than 130°F. and Property Owner Services. “Families For more information about Metro deserve to feel secure where they live.” Housing’s inspection process, contact • Plumbing should not leak. Howard Wensley, Inspections Manager, at Inspections play a critical role in the well- howard.wensley@metrohousingboston. being of families who rely upon rental • The stove should be clean and all org or visit http://bit.ly/MetroInspection. burners and the oven must work assistance to lease apartments. To make properly. • Lights should be present and working on the exterior of the building, both front and rear. LONG TIME PROPERTY OWNER PUTS TENANTS FIRST accommodate them. I’ve Inspections are a very homeless. “I had one available had one tenant (non- Metro important part of Gerry’s unit in another building and Housing) that has been with business. “If you don’t keep Kevin and Carlos at Metro me for nearly 40 years.” up with maintenance, you’ll Housing sprang into action never get fair value for your to help me house a mother Gerry grew up in Chelsea and has been unit. I think Metro Housing and her ten-year-old daughter Gerry Snierson has chosen the city to be the renting his apartments to Metro does a very thorough job with who were Section 8 voucher home of his company – New Housing families for 25 years – their inspections and their holders,” says Gerry. “They Chelsea Realty. He is proud of and some have been tenants of team there – including Kevin conducted an inspection the the fact that he rents mostly his for that long. He currently Donaher, Howard Wensley and same day and completed all to voucher holders, helping rents to 32 families through Carlos Hoffens- have always of the paperwork necessary. families remain in safe and Metro Housing. been responsive.” Within 48 hours after the fire, affordable homes. “Renting my tenants were back in a safe What’s his secret? to voucher holders through A few years ago, a four-family home. It brings me to tears Metro Housing means that I home that Gerry owned in “I know all of my tenants well when I think about it and it was am assured of a fair rent and Chelsea suffered a devastating and make sure I have all due to the inspections team my apartments are inspected fire and the building was a personal contact with all of at Metro Housing.” every year, which I think is very total loss. No one was injured them,” says Gerry. “If there valuable.” but four families were now is ever a problem, I work to Metro Housing|Boston @HOME | Winter 2019 | page 2 GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY Volunteering Highlights from Metro Housing Metro Housing staff donated Volunteers from Plymouth more than 3,000 individual food Rock Assurance and United items during the holidays to Way helped to prepare Action Boston for Community an apartment for move-in Development’s (ABCD) Parker for a single mother with Hill/Fenway Neighborhood three children. Services Center. Gerson Lehrman Group and United Way volunteered to help prepare “Welcome Home” baskets for Metro Housing families moving into affordable and stable homes. DONOR PROFILE: JOE RETTMAN Managing Partner, NEI General Contracting Founded in 1998, NEI provides Why did you first decide to support general contracting and construction Metro Housing? management services. In addition to “The mission of keeping people in their NEI’s role as general contractor of the homes who are experiencing hard times building that Metro Housing now calls and providing supportive services for home, Joe has been a long-time friend, families that are one step away from NEI is the donor for one of the conference rooms partner, and donor. He served as co-chair homelessness is truly God’s work. Metro at Metro Housing. Pictured here at the ribbon of the 2018 Champions of Housing event. Housing not only helps those in need, cutting are (L-R) Chris Norris of Metro Housing, Brandt Wajda and Joe Rettman of NEI, and Anne Joe recently spoke about his interest in they help them find a path back to more Rousseau of Metro Housing. affordable housing and Metro Housing’s stable housing. For me, supporting Metro work. Housing’s mission was a no-brainer.” the last affordable housing project NEI Why does affordable housing and What do you find most challenging completed, there were 3,200 applicants homelessness prevention matter to you? about the housing situation for low- for only 28 units. If that doesn’t income families in Boston? “Some people are spending close represent the crux of the issue, I don’t to 100% of their income to house “Housing costs in Boston continue to know what does.” themselves and their families. Without rise at a meteoric rate and the cost of Metro Housing thanks Joe and NEI a stable home, families don’t have a construction is through the roof. The for their continued support. For more chance to advance their dreams and financial resources needed to make a information on donor recognition goals and build the fabric of family.” true dent in the situation simply are not opportunities, please contact Carla available in the amounts needed. High Beaudoin at carla.beaudoin@ rents and barriers to entry continue to metrohousingboston.org.