Newsletter – Winter 2018

32nd Annual Dinner Recap

Caritas resident speakers (l-r) Robbie, Donessa (alum), Gerry and Seamus (alum)

Your Unsurpassed Generosity

Thanks to the generosity of you, our sponsors and guests, a record $1.1 million was raised at our 32nd Annual Dinner. The impact of your investment in “Housing the Next Generation” will provide our growing number of young residents with the housing that is essential to staying safe and off the streets. And by raising your paddles during “Fund Our Mission,” you ensured onsite support services for our veterans so they don’t have to face their challenges alone.

Executive Director Mark Winkeller and 2017 honoree Gloria Clough

As a tireless supporter of Caritas who gives selflessly to the needy and vulnerable, this year’s recipient of the P. Leo Corcoran Humanitarian Award, Gloria Clough, reflected on the combined ability we all have to make an impact, and you responded. Donessa, 23 years old, put a face to the shocking reality of the rise in the number of young people who need housing. Seamus reflected on his return from his military service, suffering the effects of PTSD, and crediting his Caritas home at the Bedford Veterans’ Quarters (BVQ) for literally giving him back his desire to live. And Robbie, as a young resident of the BVQ, summed up his experience this way:

“I don’t know where I would be without my Caritas home. What I do know is that all of you, and I mean every person in this room, is doing far more than putting a roof over our heads. You saved my life, and it’s not just me. I’ve seen it in other guys. You are saving young lives that still have a lot to offer.”

Thank you for caring for our youngest residents and our veterans by building the foundation that comes from having a Caritas home. Thank you for changing and saving lives, one room at a time.

Paddles Raised to Support Our Veterans

Robbie, dinner speaker, Iraq War veteran and Caritas resident

Thank you for raising your paddles to fund 24/7 support services for the 66 previously homeless veterans living at the Caritas Bedford Veterans’ Quarters. Successes of this program in the last 12 months include:

• From entry to exit, 62% of all residents experienced an increase in income through improved employment or through being connected to veteran benefits.
• Of the residents that moved in with no income, 75% now have earned income.
• Eight residents gained the skills necessary to move to independent living situations.

By funding this case management position, these continued successes are in reach. Thank you for supporting our veterans’ path
to independence and wholeness.

Rendering of O’Connor Way, South Boston

Next Up: Housing the Elderly

There is an urgent and increased need to provide housing for the lowest-income seniors. With many important objectives having been met, along with our South Boston partner, SBNDC, we continue to work diligently to fund and develop O’Connor Way, with 47 affordable one-bedroom units for senior citizens—ages 62 or older with an income at 30%, 50% and 60% of the HUD annual median income. Due to the vulnerable nature of low-income seniors, included will be the support services needed to reduce isolation and connect them to proper healthcare services. Securing financing and funding for architectural, engineering, environmental and legal costs and fees takes tremendous effort. We are working diligently toward full funding, relying onour partners and supporters to accomplish this essential goal. It is because of your commitment to Caritas that we are able to expand our services to care for our most vulnerable seniors.

Caritas Welcomes Three New Champions

The past six months for Caritas has been filled with goodwill from longtime and new donors. Your kindness through volunteer efforts to improve our housing defrays budgetary costs, allowing those funds to be used for other critical purposes. Your gifts in kind of food, decorative items, scarves and winter accessories, personal care items and paintings impact our residents in profound ways. For most, these items are the only gifts they received for the holidays. On behalf of all of our staff and residents, thank you to our newest champions: Equity Residential, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services/Warren Residential and State Street.

Ambassador Council Knows How to Get Things Done

“There was a time many years ago when it was decided that rooming houses should be eliminated, which was a huge mistake. There is a very real and urgent need to create affordable SRO [single room occupancy] housing all over Massachusetts, and Caritas is the largest and most responsible non-profit entity providing that housing.”
— John Sullivan, Co-founder, Bilt-Rite Construction and Caritas Ambassador Council member

Our Ambassador Council is charged with strengthening our mission. In 10 short months, the magnitude of its reach is outstanding. Since May 2017, our Council members and their employers collectively have given more than $230,000 to our cause. In addition, the Council has given strength to our residents by:

• Supporting the Annual Dinner, serving on the Dinner Committee and filling its tables with generous guests
• Securing and donating high-value auction items
• Earning the P. Leo Corcoran Humanitarian Award
• Serving on the Young Leaders Committee
• Teaching writing workshops, setting up libraries, tutoring and providing job application support
• Launching and leading the most successful toiletry drive in our history
• Highlighting Caritas at a BISNOW event, bringing Caritas into the spotlight through our Boston sports teams
• Refurnishing houses, painting interiors and re-landscaping properties

Thank you to our Ambassador Council for enthusiastically achieving the goals of this Council.

Your Funding of Our Support Services is Keeping People Housed

Donna, Caritas resident (l-r) and Brittany, Caritas Resident Services Coordinator

Donna worked her entire life and raised four children. Her husband died after decades of marriage. She hurt her back while at her deli job last year and was forced into an early retirement. She relied on her 401(k) savings to pay bills, but even with Caritas’ low rent, she needed more money to cover the basics. That is when Donna sought out Brittany, our support services coordinator. Brittany helped Donna prepare all her documents to apply for SSI, explaining that it may undergo many denials; but two months after applying, Donna received her benefits, enabling her to retain her housing and live with dignity. With so many confusing and overwhelming systems to navigate, our support team is a game changer for our residents. Donna, for one, would gladly testify to that.

Richard, Central House resident (Photo courtesy of WBZ)

Healthy Resident Program — An Elixir for Fighting the Outcomes of Poverty

Coupled with our belief that nobody should be homeless is our daily effort to help our residents deal with the outcomes of poverty and homelessness that result in poor heath, social isolation, distrust and depression.

Our Healthy Resident Program encompasses nutritious community meals, Y memberships and art, writing and budget workshops to provide Caritas residents with opportunities to make healthy lifestyle choices, enabling them to rebuild their lives. Through activities that facilitate physical and mental wellness and social belonging, our Healthy Resident Program helps to increase our residents’ overall well-being. It is with utmost gratitude that we thank the following for fully funding these programs for 2018:

• Boston Bruins
• Boston Celtics
• Jim and Renee Halliday
• Carol Maglitta
• Elkus Manfredi Architects
• Karin Cassel Mitterando and Family
• John Moriarty & Associates
• NB Development Group/New Balance
• Sanborn Head and Associates, Inc.
• Eleanor Uddo

Jim Halliday

Caritas Board Welcomes Jim Halliday of New Balance Development Group

It is our great honor to welcome Jim Halliday to our Board of Directors. Since his involvement at Caritas, Jim has showcased Caritas through a BISNOW event with speakers from Boston’s four sports teams; personally given and inspired others to support our Annual Dinner and fund the Healthy Residents Program; and secured high-value auction items. Thank you, Jim, for your dedication to our mission and our vulnerable residents.

Save The Date for Our 33nd Annual Dinner

Save the Date of Thursday, November 8, 2018 for Caritas’ 33rd Annual Dinner at the Westin Waterfront Hotel. Stay tuned for more details.

5th Annual Young Leader Event at Tia’s On The Waterfront

Tuesday, June 5th from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Please join us for an evening of networking and learning about our Caritas Young Leaders Welcome Home Basket program, providing basic hygiene and household essentials to incoming residents earning less than $20K annually and often arriving with just the clothes on their back.

• $25 suggested donation at the door for entrance and support of the Welcome Home Basket program.
• $50 donation provides a new resident with a complete basket and admits one new member for free.
• $100 donation buys two complete baskets and admits 3 new members for free.

For more information, contact wprice@caritascommunities.org.