Newsletter – Summer 2017
Caritas Is the Charity of Choice for Bisnow’s The State Of Boston Sports
For sports fans, Bisnow’s upcoming event on July 19th is a dream come true. For Caritas, it is a tremendous honor to have been chosen as the Official Charity of Choice by Jim Halliday of New Balance Development, Bisnow and the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins, all committed to giving back to the community that supports them.
We will learn why New Balance Development chose Boston as their home and their plans for creating a community centered on healthy living, working and playing. Moderated by Jim Halliday, we will hear from the presidents of our beloved sports dynasties, the Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox and Bruins on the future of Boston sports and its impact on our communities.
A percentage of the ticket proceeds and a silent auction of memorabilia donated by each team will result in a generous donation to Caritas to help in our mission of providing veterans and low-income individuals with permanent housing, support and a sense of community.
Re-Financing Equals Extending the Affordability of Our Homes Through 2057
Financing sustainable single-room occupancy housing for very low-income and formerly homeless individuals comes with its challenges. Thanks to a 40 year, fixed low rate loan from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), Caritas re-financed two loans into one. As the 8th loan provided through MHP, this $4.4 million loan provides a lowered interest rate of 4.38 percent. According to the Caritas Executive Director, “This extraordinarily favorable rate has eliminated one of the variables that causes rents to rise.”
Launch of the Caritas Ambassador Council
Thirty-two individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to supporting the mission of Caritas Communities have joined our inaugural Ambassador Council. With a primary role of serving as ambassadors and advocates in the wider community, members will also serve as a resource to our executive director, Board of Directors and staff in respect to fundraising and any area in which an ambassador has an interest or expertise including real estate, supportive services, finances and veterans affairs.
The first annual Ambassador Council meeting was held in May and provided Council members with a tour of our newest property, Patriot Homes, followed by an in-depth discussion on Caritas’ funding structure. We are honored by the commitment of our Council members to bettering the lives of our lowest income neighbors through housing and support.
A Successful Way to Fight Homelessness: Permanent Housing with Employment Support
Completing the transformation of 40 units of permanent housing for homeless individuals in Bay Village is no small task.
Worthy of celebration, the 7, 11-15 Cortes Street Ribbon Cutting ceremony was held on May 17th. Transformed from SRO’s, these 32 units with private baths and kitchens and eight rooms with private baths and shared kitchens are now home to BHA Priority One housing placements, arriving straight from homelessness. The program consisted of remarks by Chrystal Kornegay, Undersecretary of Mass. Department of Housing and Community Development; Sheila Dillon, Chief of Housing and Director of the Department of Neighborhood Development; Suzanne Kenney, Executive Director of Project Place (partners in providing outreach and training for employment) and of course, Mark Winkeller, Executive Director of Caritas Communities. These renovated buildings are a source of pride for Caritas and the city of Boston.
Caritas Thanks Equity Residential for Financial and Volunteer Support
It was a hot spring day for interior painting, but that didn’t deter Heather Grundy and her talented group of volunteers from Equity Residential. They arrived as the pro’s they are to spruce up four floors of interior hallway walls for our Westland Ave residents, home to 63 previously homeless and low-income residents. A few miles to the South at our Braintree Office, another group organized the contents of our Welcome Home Baskets, filled with essentials like bed linens, a place setting and personal care items. Four years ago, the Caritas Young Leaders group started this program and has funded it ever since. To date, over 300 baskets have been given to incoming residents earning under $20,000 annually.
In addition, Equity Residential has demonstrated their dedication to Caritas through their sponsorship for the 2017 Annual Dinner. For all these reasons, we are deeply grateful to Equity Residential for their commitment to bettering the community around them.
Serve With Liberty
Serve With Liberty does it again. Thank you to Olukayode (Kay) Anifowose and his team of volunteers for painting the interior porch and refreshing the bathrooms of our Medford residence. Each Liberty Mutual volunteer arrived, as they always do, ready to work and eager to learn about Caritas and what it means to elevate people from homelessness to a single room that is affordable and sustainable. On behalf of the residents and all of us at Caritas, thank you Liberty Mutual for your continued support, for which we are so very grateful.
The Bill Moore House, Everett.
In Memory of Bill Moore
It is with sincerest condolences that we acknowledge the passing of Bill Moore, one of the original Caritas Board of Directors. In addition, Bill was the principal of HW Moore, a well-regarded and highly respected engineering firm that provided technical assistance to many developers throughout Greater Boston. By all accounts, Bill was, as described by Leo Corcoran, “a very capable engineer, an utterly decent human being and a good friend.” He was a vital contributor to the mission of Caritas and will be sorely missed.
Save The Date for Our 32nd Annual Dinner
Save the Date for Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, 5:30 pm at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. We will be honoring Gloria Clough as the 2017 P. Leo Corcoran Humanitarian Award Recipient. Learn More »