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Public/Private Partnership Creates New Housing for Boston's Homeless
Friends of Boston's Homeless develops property in Jamaica Plain
Boston, MA, April 26, 2002 - Mayor Thomas M. Menino,
the Friends of Boston's Homeless, the Boston Public
Health Commission (BPHC), and the Department of Neighborhood
Development (DND) today announced the creation of new
housing for formerly homeless persons recovering from
substance abuse.
The project is being financed by the Massachusetts
Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD),
funds from DND's Leading the Way housing program, and
Wainwright Bank & Trust.
When completed, the development of property at 12-14
Wise Street in Jamaica Plain, will provide 6 one-bedroom
units for formerly homeless men and women in recovery.
The project is also being supported by the Boston Housing
Authority which will provide partial subsidies to residents
to help keep the units affordable. The program will
include support services for residents such as case
management to support sobriety, and job training to
help them find employment, all provided by the BPHC's
Homeless Services Bureau.
"This is a great example of the collaboration I spoke about in my inaugural address," said Mayor Menino. "Government working alongside non-profits and private partners can accomplish great things for the people of our city. Working together, we can give hope and opportunity to people who need it most," he said.
"This project shows, in a strong and tangible way, the Friends of Boston's Homeless' commitment to our most vulnerable residents. It will provide people in recovery critical stability as they take the next step toward a healthy and independent future," said John Auerbach, Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission.
The Friends of Boston's Homeless, a unique non-profit organization formed in 1987, has raised over 12 million dollars over the past 15 years to support the Public Health Commission's efforts on behalf of the city's homeless population.
"The partnership between the Friends and the City is an absolute winning combination," said John Rosenthal, founder of the Friends of Boston's Homeless. "Together we are successfully moving more than 150 formerly homeless men and women beyond shelter each year. The permanent housing we're developing at 12-14 Wise Street completes our full continuum of services, from emergency shelter to independent living," he said.
"Governor Swift is proud to invest state resources from DHCD's Housing Stabilization Fund (HSF) for the Wise Street project. It is crucial that we partner with non-profits like the Friends to provide supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals who are committed to continued sobriety and self-sufficiency," said DHCD Director Jane Wallis Gumble. "We continue to urge passage of the long-awaited 2001 Housing Bond Bill, so that we will have additional funds to commit to other important housing efforts such as Wise Street."
DND Director and Boston Housing Chief Charlotte Golar Richie said, "Mayor Menino's housing strategy is making developments like this possible, creating new homes for people who have none and brightening futures that were once bleak. This collaboration is building more than new housing-it's helping to rebuild lives."
Officials at the project's private partner, Wainwright Bank & Trust, said they were proud to play a part in helping build a stronger community and more hopeful lives.
"Because of Wainwright's commitment to social justice issues, this is exactly the kind of project we seek to finance," said Pat Capalbo, Community Development Lender at Wainwright Bank. "Not only are we honored to be working with such an effective organization as the Friends of Boston's Homeless, we're gratified to be providing new hope for those working to overcome substance addiction," she added.
The property being renovated on Wise Street has been vacant and abandoned for many years, and was considered a blight on the neighborhood. The Friends of Boston's Homeless are not new to developing this type of housing for people in recovery. The organization has operated a similar housing program at 1 Wise Street for more than ten years. Given the Friends' positive track record with neighborhood residents, the new project enjoys significant community support.
Construction will take approximately five months, and applications for the 6 units will be taken in the summer of 2002.
Further Contact Information
Friends of Boston's Homeless:
John Rosenthal 617-965-2200 ext. 150
City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development:
DeWayne Lehman
617-635-4802
Massachusetts Dept. of Housing and Community Development:
Phil Hailer
617-727-7765 ext. 122
Wainwright Bank & Trust:
Pat Capalbo
617-478-4000 ^ back to top ^
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