HOUSING AND SHELTER ALLIANCE

Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance PO Box 120070 THE NORTH STAR Volume 6, Issue 1 “Initiating Solutions to End Homelessness” Winter 2010 , MA 02112 Home & Healthy for Good Selected as 2010 Social Innovator At a celebratory event at the Parkman May 4 with participation in the Social House in Boston on January 20, 2010, Innovation Forum “Showcase” event, MHSA’s Housing First initiative Home which is modeled after venture capital & Healthy for Good was announced forums in which early-stage organizations as a 2010 “Social Innovator” by Root present their ideas directly to investors. Cause and its Social Innovation Forum for During the showcase, each nonprofit will demonstrating a promising solution to the seek to present their most compelling case pressing social problem of homelessness. for support to more than 250 potential Six innovative nonprofit organizations philanthropic investors. to potential philanthropic investors to in were selected from more Root Cause is a national nonprofit help them gain visibility and acquire the than 145 entrants in the seventh year of organization that works toward solutions resources necessary to expand their work. the nationally recognized program. More to social and economic problems. “We were absolutely thrilled to be chosen than 60 leaders in business, philanthropy Its Social Innovation Forum (www. as a Social Innovator,” said MHSA and the nonprofit sector reviewed the socialinnovationforum.org) seeks to Executive Director Joe Finn. “We look applications in a rigorous evaluation develop enduring solutions to social forward to a productive partnership with process. problems by directing an alternative flow Root Cause and the Social Innovation The award entitles each organization of resources to innovative and results- Forum.” to $75,000 in cash and services, including oriented nonprofit organizations that The Social Innovators’ strategy strategy consulting, business planning, strive for efficiency, effectiveness and and business support will culminate on executive coaching and introductions sustainability. HPRP: REGIONAL INITIATIVES TO END HOMELESSNESS SAVE THE DATE The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, signed into All of our partners have proven success in serving their law in February 2009, included $1.5 billion intended for a new respective regions. Working in collaboration, each agency now has Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). an improved capacity to reduce homelessness in Massachusetts. Wednesday, May 26, 2010 Through this new funding stream, MHSA received a grant for $1.9 million from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and MHSA has partnered with Boston, Chelsea and Revere: Community Development (DHCD) and is now collaborating with the following organizations: • HomeStart six service agencies across the state. Seventh Annual Spring • Metropolitan Boston The HPRP grant addresses a critical need: preventing Merrimack Valley: Housing Partnership individuals who are experiencing financial or social crisis from • Community Fundraising Event for MHSA Western Massachusetts: becoming homeless and helping recently homeless individuals find Teamwork, Inc. • South Middlesex Omni Parker House Hotel, Boston permanent housing. HPRP is unique in that it serves a very • Lowell Transitional Opportunity Council specific and vulnerable population of individuals who only Living Center • HapHousing Cocktail Reception and Awards Presentation need short-term assistance to build long-term stability. The new grant focuses on the value of the Housing First methodology, an emerging paradigm shift that places obtaining permanent housing “This program is going to ensure that people moving into Honorees as a top priority in ending homelessness. permanent housing can maintain their housing as we now have Rapid re-housing is an important tool in Housing First strategies the ability to give those individuals the necessary community Chief Executive Officer of NAIOP Massachusetts that removes newly homeless individuals from shelters and helps support they need,” said Peter Duda, Executive Director of the prevent the accrual of chronically homeless individuals and the Lowell Transitional Living Center (LTLC). “HPRP is a critical, David Begelfer long-term harm and dependency created by extended shelter stays. added resource that will help Lowell Transitional and our partner By ensuring that individuals have acceptable housing, Housing organizations move toward the Housing First model and further President & Executive Director of Victory Programs, Inc. First catalyzes increased financial stability and reins in the strengthen the tools we have to end homelessness.” social, medical, financial and psychological costs associated While there are still overarching gaps in homeless services Jonathan Scott with living in shelters or on the street. across the Commonwealth, the HPRP grant will provide a MHSA partner agencies will provide case management tailored critical opportunity to develop long-term housing solutions. More information and honorees to be announced. to clients’ specific needs and distribute short- and medium-term MHSA is grateful for the support from DHCD and is encouraged rental assistance as clients work to stabilize their finances. by the state’s commitment to working with us on the many Join us! initiatives that will help us reach our goal of ending homelessness in the Commonwealth. Page 2 Page 3 Message from executive Director Joe Finn MHSA is a non-profit public policy It’s time for us to be in And because of people like Bill, I’m in a rush to A Year in Review: MHSA Annual Meeting advocacy alliance with the singular The MHSA Annual Meeting was held at Holland & Knight to the board. the year’s accomplishments and thanked a rush. end homelessness. The good news is that I’m not mission of ending homelessness in member agency Boston Health Care for the MHSA President & Executive Director all the supporters of MHSA for investing in I was late to a meeting, alone. the Commonwealth. Homeless Program on December 17. Joe Finn presented Representative Byron permanent solutions to homelessness. hurrying down Summer More and more providers of homeless Through strategic partnerships MHSA Board Member Jim Cuddy of Rushing an award for his tireless work and Street, when a disabled shelter and services are asking how they can use formed with government, private South Middlesex Opportunity Council commitment to ending homelessness in the homeless person I’ll call resources more efficiently to support chronically philanthropy, business leaders, welcomed guests and conducted official board Commonwealth. Representative Rushing Bill, who I have known for homeless people in housing rather than letting homeless individuals and service business. graciously accepted the award and remarked years, approached me. He them languish on the streets or in shelter. The providers, MHSA works to ensure After a review of recent accomplishments, on his long relationship working with MHSA asked if he would have a private sector and philanthropic groups are that homelessness does not become the Board of Directors voted and welcomed to end the homelessness of our poorest, most home by February. asking how they can make a more lasting impact a permanent part of the social Lyndia Downie of Pine Street Inn, John vulnerable neighbors. I didn’t have an answer for him. If the on homelessness. New partnerships are forming landscape. Yazwinski of Fr. Bills & MainSpring, Wilton Guests watched a slide show created using housing and appropriate services were available, every day with a shared ultimate goal: ending, Hyman of Law Boston, Dean images by photographer Tara Morris of MHSA’s I would move him in tomorrow. The truth not managing, homelessness. Joe Finn, President and Executive Atkins of Mintz Levin and Kiley Gosselin of Journey to Success tenants, which highlighted Director is, despite all of our success here at MHSA, What we need is a sense of immediacy, where we aren’t yet finished in our efforts to move low-threshold supportive housing - instead of Tom Brigham, Housing First disabled, chronically homeless individuals off the temporary shelter - is the default option for Social Action Ministries: Faith Communities Ending Homelessness Through Advocacy Coordinator streets, out of shelters, and into homes of their people like Bill. I hope and believe that the day Social Action Ministries (SAM) engages City Mission. SAM chairs the Boston Faith- own. While we have proven time and again that is coming soon when I can walk the streets of Would you like to get involved in the Erin Donohue, Development and people of all faiths in MHSA’s mission to end Based Advisory Council to End Homelessness, Communications Director permanent supportive housing is far less costly Boston or through the Common and realize that homelessness. mission of MHSA: ending homelessness? which is currently focusing on ways for faith than relying on emergency shelter or simply Bill isn’t there. I won’t have to wonder where In the fall of 2009, SAM supporters Visit www.mhsa.net and click “Get communities to support permanent housing Dr. Jessie Gaeta, Physician Advocate doing nothing, we haven’t yet finished the job. he is because I’ll know - he’s home. demonstrated their dedication to our homeless Involved” for more information about solutions to homelessness. Caitlin Golden of Caitlin Golden, Outreach neighbors by advocating for the reversal of a what you can do through SAM, the SAM and Alexander Kern of Cooperative Coordinator FY 2011 Policy Update: Conversion and Rapid Re-Housing proposed 9C cut to the Homeless Individuals MHSA Young Professionals Group and Metropolitan Ministries co-chair the Metro Nicole Silva, Development and Advocating for resources and constructing to effective housing programs. It is only with Assistance Line Item, which was ultimately more! Boston Faith-Based Advisory Council, which restored. is developing an outreach and education Communications Associate policy has never been as challenging as it is during this flexibility that MHSA and its partners will In addition to statewide advocacy, SAM these unprecedented fiscal times. The past six be successful in providing more permanent, People of various faiths called others strategy to engage faith communities in Doug Tetrault, Program Assistant has focused on engaging faith communities months of advocacy to end homelessness have sustainable solutions to homelessness. to action from the pulpits and through supporting the Metro Boston Regional volunteer programs, and they passed on that in the Boston and Metro Boston regions Network’s focus on Housing First, diversion, Patrick Walsh, Policy and Advocacy been a roller coaster ride that has often had us The passing of the federal economic stimulus call to action to their elected officials. through grants funded by the Fireman prevention and affordable housing. Director holding on for dear life to protect the important bill in early 2009 had a positive impact on MHSA’s Foundation, One Family, Inc. and Episcopal but scarce resources serving homeless adults in efforts to end homelessness in Massachusetts. Janice Whalen, Financial Assistant Massachusetts. As we plan for the next fiscal year, Through funds provided by the Homeless MHSA Offers New Service to Members: Massachusetts Community Voice Mail Kaye Wild, Vice President we are prepared for any uphills, downhills or loops Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program known as “Project Connect,” Massachusetts of work, housing, healthcare or safety from that may come our way. (HPRP), MHSA will collaborate with agencies in CVM has assisted more than 10,000 people domestic violence. In addition to offering a tool Tom Yotts, Director of Finance and After a 9C cut to the Homeless Lowell, Greater Boston and Western since launching in 1996, including clients in for clients to attain personal goals, CVM allows Administration Individuals Assistance Line Item Massachusetts to help rapidly move Greater Boston, the South Shore and Western case managers to send “broadcast messages” (7004-0102) in October, Governor individuals from shelter into housing Massachusetts. alerting CVM clients of job opportunities or Patrick thankfully found additional with stabilization services. This CVM helps people living in poverty, emergency information. resources to maintain level funding in program will both limit the amount Contributing to MHSA Continuing MHSA’s commitment to transition and homelessness rebuild their this line item for Fiscal Year 2010. The of time individuals have to spend in To find out how to bring CVM to your Today there is an unprecedented connecting our poorest neighbors with the lives by connecting them to jobs, housing and Governor’s FY 2011 budget level funds 7004- shelter and reduce the state’s need for shelter organization or community or to donate consensus on our shared capacity resources necessary to move from crisis to information. 0102 and the Home & Healthy for Good Line capacity. It will also set homeless individuals on to CVM, please contact Caitlin Golden to end homelessness. State and stability, MHSA began to serve as the host Each CVM client receives a unique local Item (7004-0104). Governor Patrick recognizes a path to greater independence. at [email protected] or 617-367-6447 local governments are taking an agency for Massachusetts Community Voice telephone number at which the client can the critical role these resources have played in In the past year, we have learned and been receive voicemail messages and pursue goals ext. 28. interagency approach to the problem, forwarding new and innovative strategies that reminded of a number of lessons in policy advocacy Mail (CVM) in September 2009. Formerly plans to end homelessness are end homelessness. As we look forward to FY and development. We know that we cannot being enacted, and corporate and 2011, MHSA and its partners are prepared move our mission forward without the support New Faces at MHSA community partners are joining to transform the current homeless service of concerned citizens who embrace and spread Doug Tetrault, Program Assistant Jeannie Sur, Social Action Ministries Intern forces to create systemic change. system into one based on triage, community- the message that there is a better approach to Doug will be assisting in various MHSA initiatives While at MHSA, Jeannie will be working to engage Action is producing visible outcomes based services and rapid re-housing for homeless homelessness than emergency shelter. We have including HPRP, Home & Healthy for Good, PDPR faith communities in ending homelessness. Jeannie in Massachusetts. individuals. also learned that at times it is important to take and Journey to Success. Prior to joining MHSA, is a Master of Divinity candidate at Harvard Please use the enclosed envelope MHSA continues to promote flexible use of a principled stand and we are grateful to have Doug worked at an education reform organization Divinity School. Jeannie earned her bachelor’s to send in your tax-deductible homeless service funds and conversion of shelter friends who stand with us when called upon. in Indianapolis, IN and at Be the Change, Inc. in degree in political science from Pacific Lutheran contribution today and be a part dollars into resources for housing opportunities. While our roller coaster ride to end homelessness Cambridge. After graduating from Champlain University in Tacoma, Washington. She worked of this revolution. We are working with the Department of Housing might be filled with peaks and valleys, one thing is College with a bachelor’s degree in Professional as a Housing Specialist for Amherst H. Wilder MHSA and Community Development to promote our certain: we are rapidly moving forward, on the Writing, Doug researched legislative issues pertaining Foundation and Simpson Housing Services, Inc., PO Box 120070 conversion strategy and to direct resources right track, to end homelessness. to human rights and advocacy law as an intern for both in Minnesota. Boston, MA 02112 the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Welcome, Doug and Jeannie!