METROPOLITAN BOSTON HOUSING PARTNERSHIP 20 l 0 ANNUAL REPORT
STRENGTH
in EXPERIENCE
INNOVATIVE RESPONSES
TO HOUSING CHALLENGES
SECOND ANNUAL FOUNDERS EVENT
MBHP Executive Director Chris Norris recognizing Citizen’s Bank of
Massachusetts. Accepting the award for Citizen’s is Stephen Woods.
Board Co-chair Steven Rioff recognizing Novogradac & Company, LLP.
Accepting the award is Novogradac’s Jim McGowan.
On Nov. l 7, 2009, MBHP honored the investors and
community development corporations (CDCs) of BHP II,
a public-private partnership set up to rehabilitate and
preserve affordable housing that was conceived 20 years
ago and stands as a model for preserving affordable
housing today.
The Second Annual Founders Celebration honored
the following investors for their vision, generosity and
dedication to Boston’s affordable housing market: Bank
of America, BNY Mellon, Citizens Bank, John Hancock
Life Insurance Company, MetLife Insurance Company,
Novogradac Housing Partners, Prudential Insurance
Company of America, State Street Corporation, and
The TJX Companies, Inc.
The seven CDCs involved in BHP II also were
acknowledged for their long-term commitment to
affordable housing and to their communities: Codman
Square Neighborhood Development Corporation,
Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation,
Fields Corner Community Development Corporation,
Lena Park Community Development Corporation,
Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation, QuincyGeneva Housing Corporation/New Vision Community
Development Corporation, and Urban Edge.
Dear Friends,
For more than 27 years, MBHP has been at the forefront of Greater Boston affordable
housing programs. As Massachusetts’ largest regional provider of rental assistance and
initiator of some of the area’s most progressive, successful support services, MBHP is
in a unique position to advocate for programs and services that best serve those at risk
of homelessness.
From our early roots in facilitating partnerships among the private, public and
nonprofit communities to develop and rehabilitate apartments in jeopardy of falling
off the affordable housing grid, to our most recent programs that transition individuals
and families who are homeless or facing homelessness into homes using short-term
rental assistance, MBHP’s array of experiences in response to need is unparalleled.
These experiences and the resulting expertise that MBHP has developed over the years
have positioned us to respond to today’s affordable housing landscape. In other words,
we know what to do, we do it well, and we are looked to by others for our expertise.
But we do not—we cannot —do it alone. The funding that makes it possible for us
to do much of our work comes from individual, corporate and foundation donors.
Additionally, we partner with communities such as the city of Newton where we
provide housing search supports to homeless and at-risk families, the city of Boston
where we administer Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing (HPRP) dollars
and various rental assistance programs, and the town of Winchester where we assisted
the town with implementation of their Human Rights Policy.
We also continue to work with neighborhood partners such as Urban Edge, Chelsea
Neighborhood Developers, Codman Square and Dorchester Bay. And our multifaceted
partnership with the Commonwealth’s Department of Housing and Community
Development extends beyond rapid re-housing efforts to working toward improving
statewide the administration of the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
In Fiscal Year 20 l 0 we witnessed the continuation of economic stresses that have
forced many people into precarious housing situations. Families originally housed with
temporary assistance are reaching the end of that funding cycle and again face uncertain
housing futures. We will continue to work with the state and our partnering agencies
to identify possible solutions to help these families most at risk of homelessness.
Within the pages of this annual report are snapshots of some of the new programs
and services MBHP has developed, evolved or administered over the past year as well as
insights into some of our more long-term, cornerstone services. Fiscal Year 20 l 0 was
a year of creativity, a year of applying what we know and what we do to new, evolving
situations. Thank you for letting us share some of it with you.
Sincerely,
Christopher T. Norris
Executive Director
Lowell Richards
Co-Chairman
of the Board
Steven Rioff
Co-Chairman
of the Board
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to ensure that the region’s low- and moderate-income individuals and
families have choice and mobility in finding and retaining decent, affordable housing; all
of our programs and initiatives are designed to encourage housing stability, increase
economic self-sufficiency, and enhance the quality of the lives of those we serve. To
achieve our mission and to promote efficient service delivery, we work collaboratively
with a broad array of service providers and neighborhood-based organizations. We
believe that everyone deserves a place to call home.
A Safe Place to Call Home
An apartment is not really a home unless it is safe. To help ensure that
families with low and moderate incomes are able to live in safe, healthy
environments, MBHP’s Property Owner and Inspectional Services
department has served as the gatekeeper for thousands of safe, decent
apartments for decades. MBHP also is dedicated to partnering with its
property owners and managers to help them understand the value of their
properties, the importance of upkeep, ways to minimize vacancies, and
their role in increasing housing stability.
In Fiscal Year 20 l 0, MBHP performed 25,000 inspections to assure
a high standard of livability and safety for all of our clients. MBHP
Property Owner and Inspectional Services staff also played an important
role in the implementation of the region’s Homelessness Prevention
and Rapid Re-housing (HPRP) programs. With one inspector dedicated
solely to HPRP inspections, MBHP helped hundreds of families
transition quickly from being homeless and sheltered in area motels to
living in their own apartments.
All MBHP inspectors are certified, and their reputation is unsurpassed.
Seeking a model for its Moving To Work program, representatives from
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development visited MBHP
recently to learn more about our inspections processes.
But the support MBHP gives its property owners doesn’t stop at
inspections. MBHP regularly hosts monthly support sessions and
workshops for property owners and managers. In March, property owners
and managers were recognized for their role in providing safe, decent
housing for our tenants at our Property Owner Appreciation Evening.
HEALTHY HOMES
Fiscal Year 20 l 0 also marked the beginning of a unique partnership: MBHP,
the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), Northeastern University
and the Boston Housing Authority have teamed up to help make Boston
homes healthier through the Healthy Homes program. The program, funded
by two federal grants received by BPHC, is designed to improve the home
environments of low-income families by eliminating toxins and hazards.
MBHP inspectors are playing an important role in implementing the
Healthy Homes program. The training they’ve received will help them to
identify conditions in homes that contribute to specific family health
issues—such as asthma—and connect families with appropriate
assistance to help them eliminate housing-related hazards and, ultimately,
improve the overall health of family members. In conjunction with the
initiative partners, MBHP inspectors also will identify families who need
in-home case management to help them improve the condition of their
homes and connect these families with MBHP collaborative partners for
services. Additionally, MBHP Client Services staff will help these families
connect with other resources, such as food stamps and utility assistance, to
further improve their health and living environments.
Inspector Michael Campbell guided Gary Zimmerman of Middlesex Human Service Agency
through his first experience with the MBHP inspection process.
ESTABLISHING PARTNERSHIPS
H
aving a tenant with a Section 8 voucher was something new
for Gary Zimmerman. As director of operations for Middlesex
Human Service Agency, Inc., he oversees the agency’s rental
properties which includes a recently acquired building in Dorchester
that is occupied by an MBHP client with rental assistance. When
the apartment was due for its annual inspection, Zimmerman
wasn’t sure what to expect.
“This was the first Section 8 inspection we’ve gone through,”
Zimmerman said. “It’s our first experience with the process.”
Zimmerman said he didn’t feel uninformed for very long. His
MBHP inspector met him at the building and walked him through
the process, detailing the safety, security and functionality checks
performed during each inspection.
“It really helps to establish a relationship with MBHP and
the inspector about what goes on here,” Zimmerman said. “To
know what inspectors are looking for is important to being more
proactive about ongoing maintenance and safety issues. It’s
been educational — it helps us keep the property safe for our
tenants and helps us avoid violations. And I like being able to
get updates and information about trainings for us and for our
tenants through MBHP.”
Doug George, of Urban Neighborhood Homes, helps manage
Middlesex’s Dorchester property. He agrees that MBHP’s
approach to the inspection process benefits all involved.
“MBHP treats it like a partnership,” he said. “The inspectors
have such a positive attitude, and MBHP works hard to establish a
personal relationship with the landlords, a personal connection in
the work we’re doing.”
George said he also appreciates the ongoing e-mail updates
and news, plus MBHP’s property owner/manager special events
and workshops.
MBHP 2010 ANNUAL REPORT 3
From Homelessness to Home
MBHP is committed to helping individuals and families transition from
homelessness to permanent housing. We offer a diverse range of
innovative programs that are designed to meet the specific needs of those
who are homeless. From people with disabilities or health issues to those
who have lost their jobs in today’s difficult economic climate, MBHP is
at the forefront of helping individuals and families achieve economic
self-sufficiency and to find a place to call home.
HELPING FAMILIES TRANSITION FROM
MOTEL SHELTER TO THEIR OWN HOMES
In August 2009, 800 Massachusetts families were homeless and living
in motel rooms, placed there by the state because shelters were at capacity.
That same month, MBHP Client Services staff tried an aggressive
approach to helping some of these families transition from homelessness
to housing. Using its “housing first, not housing only” philosophy,
MBHP targeted the Cambridge Gateway Inn for an innovative pilot
program that paired state-funded, time-limited rental assistance with
case management to move families from motel shelter to housing.
Seventy-six families sheltered at the Gateway were interviewed. Those
families who, with the help of time-limited rental assistance and some
basic emergency funds, were believed to have the greatest likelihood of
getting back on their feet within a year, were given short-term assistance
and transitioned into their own homes. Twenty-two formerly homeless
families benefited from the pilot program.
By December 2009, the statewide count had risen to more than l ,000
families sheltered in motels. By this time, in response to the increase in
homelessness nationwide, federal stimulus dollars had become available for
the rapid re-housing of families experiencing homelessness. Similar to
MBHP’s Gateway pilot program, the funding from the Homelessness
Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing (HPRP) program could be used for
short-term rental assistance.
In 20 l 0 the Gateway model was scaled up and, by early June, MBHP
and its Heading Home partner had met with more than 643 families
sheltered in l 8 Greater Boston motels — more than half of the families
sheltered in motels statewide at any time. About one-third of them were
identified as candidates for rapid re-housing. By Fall 20 l 0, using a
combination of HPRP dollars and private emergency funds, MBHP and
Heading Home had helped 300 families move from motels into
apartments. Many more were in the process of finalizing leases or
searching for apartments.
To access the report about MBHP’s rapid re-housing program, visit
www.mbhp.org.
4 MBHP 2010 ANNUAL REPORT
Lisa and her daughter Lily are happy to be out of motel shelter and settled into their own apartment.
KICK-STARTED OUT OF MOTEL SHELTER
L
isa had worked all her life. She had owned her own home,
even owned her own flower shop once. But her life took a
dramatic turn while she and her family were living in Florida.
First she lost her job, then her husband abandoned her and
their daughter. Lisa returned to her hometown of Woburn to
live with a relative while she looked for work. But the temporary living arrangement became unmanageable and gainful
employment was elusive. Within a few months, Lisa and her
daughter had become homeless and were placed in a motel by
the state.
“I never believed I would be in the situation I was in,” Lisa
said. “I once owned my own business, owned two homes.
That motel wasn’t who I was.”
During one of MBHP’s motel visits, Lisa connected with staff
members who in turn connected her with the HPRP program.
With the assistance they received, she and her daughter were
able to get their own apartment. Soon after that Lisa landed a
job with good advancement potential.
Lisa says she’ll do “whatever it takes” to become and to
stay self-sufficient when her one-year rental assistance
expires. “But I feel I wouldn’t have been able to do that
without this kick-start,” she added. “At the end of my year,
I want to be able to be on my own two feet!”
For Annie, one of the best things about having her own home is her sewing machine.
ENDING HOMELESSNESS WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE
Rental Assistance is the cornerstone of MBHP’s work. We manage nearly
$ l 05 million annually in rental assistance and serve more than 7,600 families
and individuals with federal, state and specialized vouchers making us the
largest regional administrator of rental assistance in the Commonwealth.
Our expertise has positioned us well to help 62 families transition from
homelessness to housing through the Moving to Economic Opportunity
Program (MEOP)—a new state-funded program administered by MBHP
in the Greater Boston area. Based on the successful asset-building Family
Self-Sufficiency Program for Section 8 rental assistance recipients (see back
cover), MEOP is a three-year program that provides transitional support—
including an asset-building tool and employment services—to help families
moving from homelessness to permanent housing and from unemployment
to economic self-sufficiency. The program is targeted toward families with
very low-incomes who have demonstrated the motivation and skills to obtain
and keep regular and gainful employment. Participants receive not only
rental assistance from MBHP but also employment assistance, housing
search help, and case management from their shelter provider.
MBHP also participates in the Families at Home (FAH) Supported
Housing Program—a collaboration among MBHP, the City of Boston
and five partnering agencies. FAH is designed to provide rental assistance to
eligible families who are homeless and have at least one disabled household
member. MBHP is responsible for ensuring apartments for FAH families
meet federal Housing Quality Standards, for conducting recertification
activities, and for administering all program records including contracts and
lease documents. In Fiscal Year 20 l 0, MBHP helped 37 families move
from homelessness to housing through the FAH program.
BACK IN CONTROL IN A HOME OF HER OWN
W
hen Annie came to the United States from St. Lucia to
find a better life many years ago, she never imagined a
chance incident would be the start of years of homelessness.
“I had a bag with everything inside of it,” she said. “I set it
down and forgot to pick it up when I left. I went back for it, but
it was gone. I lost everything that was inside of it.”
Annie’s life continued to spiral out of control. She eventually
became homeless, spending nights in train stations. For the
next several years Annie was in and out of shelters. Her health
deteriorated and her need for cleanliness became obsessive.
At one point she heard someone talking about MBHP and
she decided to pay the agency a visit. It was the start of her
journey back to housing. Annie visited MBHP almost daily,
working with her housing search specialist to resolve some
of her mental and physical health issues and investigate
housing options.
Within a year of working with MBHP, Annie received a
state-funded Shelter Plus Care voucher and was able to move
into her own apartment in Chelsea. Annie receives support
services in addition to her rent subsidy, and for the first time
in years has a place to call home.
“I like being here,” she said, looking around her apartment.
“I can cook, I can keep the place clean, I can be happy.” Soon
Annie’s hand-sewn curtains will adorn her windows.
MBHP 2010 ANNUAL REPORT 5
Preventing Homelessness
Preventing homelessness and stabilaizing families always has been a high
priority for MBHP. With a little bit of help, many familes and individuals
who are at risk of becoming homeless can remain in their homes. In Fiscal
Year 20 l 0, we provided this assistance through a variety of programs and
services that enabled hundreds of families to avoid homelessness.
PARTNERSHIPS THAT PREVENT HOMELESSNESS
In addition to our own rapid re-housing efforts, MBHP also participated
in HPRP-funded programs administered by other organizations in Fiscal
Year 20 l 0. Our partnerships with these organizations helped to broaden
our efforts to prevent homelessness. Our case managers worked in the
Malden and Revere Department of Transitional Assistance and Department of Housing and Community Development (DTA/DHCD) offices,
meeting with individuals and families who were on the verge of homelessness and providing diversion services. As of September, the program
helped 260 families avoid homelessness and another 39 families transition
from homelessness to housing. MBHP also was tapped to administer the
funding for the City of Boston’s HPRP program. In this capacity, we worked
with ll agencies that provided case management, budget and employment
assistance, and more to families who were at risk of becoming homeless—
and to some who had already become homeless—in the city of Boston.
MBHP also provided inspectional and administrative services for the
participating agencies. As of September 20 l 0, the program had helped
625 families avoid homelessness. In addition, a collaboration with several
Boston community development corporations resulted in the Early Warning
System Partnership which helped prevent another l 46 families from
becoming homeless.
HELPING FAMILIES KEEP THEIR HOMES
MBHP offers a number of innovative programs that provide personalized
solutions to those who are at risk of losing their homes. Combining
comprehensive assessment of need with continued supports that range
from assistance with navigating service systems to gaining access to mental
health, medical and/or substance abuse resources is crucial to stabilizing
individuals and families. The following programs and services helped keep
families and individuals in their homes in Fiscal Year 20 l 0:
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Resource Lines received l 2,686 calls and 698 walk-in requests for
assistance. More than 700 households received brief counseling
services. Additionally, l l 3 workshops were offered to tenants, property
owners and providers, reaching more than 2,400 people with assistance
and resources.
6 MBHP 2010 ANNUAL REPORT
Pierre, Mirlene and their three children were able to avoid homelessness with the help of MBHP
and the Revere DTA/DHCD staff.
A DREAM COME TRUE
G
od bless America!” says Pierre, and he means it. Pierre, his
wife Mirlene, and their three daughters left Haiti in 2008 with
the help of a family member already in the United States. Escaping
what Mirlene called the “increasing poverty” of their native country
was a relief, but not without problems.
Language barriers and scarce employment opportunities
resulted in the family’s living with relatives for the first two years
here. But when they needed to find a home of their own, they
found they could not afford to rent their own place on their limited
income. Facing homelessness, the couple met with an MBHP
homelessness diversion case manager at the Revere DTA / DHCD
office. She helped them apply for various housing programs and
connected them with HPRP resources.
With the help of HPRP diversion dollars, the family was able
to rent an apartment in only one month. Then, a few months into
their one-year lease, Pierre and Mirlene were notified that they
were one of five families being considered for a subsidized,
project-based, co-op apartment. “I just kept praying that we’d get
that apartment,” Mirlene said. “The kids were praying, too!”
The day after one of their daughters had a dream that they got
the apartment, their MBHP case manager called to say they’d
been chosen for the co-op. MBHP then contacted their current
landlord and helped them dissolve their one-year lease so they
could move into their new home.
“We are very thankful for what MBHP has done,” said Mirlene.
Brian, Jennifer and their son Dominic are back in a home of their own.
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75 tenants in order to prevent homelessness due to hoarding, the third
most common cause of evictions in the state.
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the HPRP program was provided to l 38 households.
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Fair Housing laws were provided to 8 l clients with Fair Housing issues.
Additionally, MBHP Fair Housing staff conducted 32 fair housing
workshops for tenants, property owners, community agencies and
municipalities, and partnering agencies.
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owners and tenants, MBHP connected them with counseling, resources
and advice regarding their rights and responsibilities during the foreclosure
process. Additionally, MBHP offered individuals and small-property
owners assistance with counseling and loan modification applications.
In Fiscal Year 20 l 0, we worked with more than l 00 home owners and
helped secure 50 permanent loan modifications and another 30 trial
loan modifications.
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options and opportunities for safe, affordable, permanent housing.
MBHP’s housing search specialist works one on one with clients —
both tenants and property owners—establishing a relationship of trust
so as a team they can work together to solve housing issues. In Fiscal
Year 20 l 0, MBHP helped 27 l individuals and families with intensive
housing search assistance.
UNLUCKY STREAK COMES TO AN END
I
t wasn’t that long ago that Jennifer and Brian looked at their lives
and wondered what more could go wrong. Their troubles started
when they were given notice to vacate their apartment because the
building was facing foreclosure. They found another apartment, but
after a few months they had to leave when they found out it had not
been rented to them legally. Soon after that, Brian lost his job and
Jennifer, who was pregnant, became ill. The two ended up living
with Brian’s father, an arrangement that was tenuous and stressful.
With homelessness looming, Jennifer visited the Malden DTA /
DHCD office to apply for emergency shelter and met an MBHP
homelessness diversion case manger who helped connect her
and Brian with resources. Unfortunately, they did not receive pubic
housing in time to prevent becoming homeless and the couple
and their infant son ended up in motel shelter provided by state
emergency funds. While in the motel, they qualified for rapid
re-housing dollars and were finally able to move into an apartment.
“Our MBHP case manager was so kind,” said Jennifer. “That
meant a lot to me. And she connected us with ongoing support.
It’s encouraging and motivating because you’re not alone, not
doing this by yourself.”
Things are looking up for Jennifer and Brian. Not only do they
finally have their own place, but Brian also has a lead on a good job.
Jennifer likes their new home, especially knowing it is up to
housing quality standards because it was inspected by MBHP.
She likes her new landlord, and she is looking forward to the day
when they no longer need rental assistance.
“We have one year to get back on our feet, and we WILL get
back on our feet,” she said. “It’s easier to do that when you’re not
in a homeless shelter!”
continued on page 8
MBHP 2010 ANNUAL REPORT 7
Preventing Homelessness
continued from page 7
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administered by MBHP allowed 2 l families to remain in their homes.
The HMLP provides zero- or low-interest loans to fund modifications
necessary to accommodate a resident’s disability and allow the resident
to remain in the home.
PRESERVING TENANCIES, DIVERTING HOMELESSNESS
The Metro Boston Network to End Homelessness (MBN) officially began
operating in July 2009 with a $l . l 8 million grant from the Interagency
Council on Housing and Homelessness. MBN brought together l 4 agencies
and organizations (sub-grantees) throughout the Greater Boston region
to work collaboratively to provide Housing First, homelessness prevention
and diversion, and housing stabilization services and to create innovative
solutions to homelessness. Twelve of the agencies were funded for
homelessness prevention pilot programs and two administered flexible funds
to help stabilize housing. MBHP served as the lead convener for the
Network which included elected officials, businesses, faith communities,
housing and service providers, and more.
Through September 20 l 0, 739 tenancies were preserved and another
37 families were diverted from imminent homelessness through the
Network. Additionally, MBN and its leveraged resources helped house
l 8 chronically homeless individuals and 22 homeless families with
significant barriers to housing.
Although Sept. 30, 20 l 0, marked the official end to MBN’s original
funding cycle, the Network will continue its valuable work under the
auspices of the United Way.
OUR REVAMPED ONLINE DATABANK CONNECTS
TENANTS WITH AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS
In response to the need for a user-friendly, online databank of apartment
vacancies considered to be in Greater Boston’s affordable rent ranges,
MBHP sought and received grant funding and in-kind services for a major
upgrade to our Web site’s free online listing service in Fiscal Year 20 l 0.
Thanks to the generosity of Lawrence Model Lodging Houses Trust, The
Paul and Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation and Boston Interactive,
we were able to make significant improvements to our listing service.
Since the revised service went online in January, property owners and
managers with vacant units have been able to post their vacancies, include
photos of the apartments, and have the locations automatically mapped
by an online mapping service. The service connects property owners and
managers with prospective tenants more quickly, reducing vacancy rates
and offering prospective tenants more choices in their housing searches.
8 MBHP 2010 ANNUAL REPORT
With MBHP’s help, James was able to fight back against illegal housing discrimantion.
STANDING UP FOR HIS RIGHTS
A
fter waiting six years for his Section 8 voucher, James — who
had been forced to seek help with his rent due to health
issues — had finally found a “wonderful” apartment with housing
search help from the Justice Resource Institute. But an hour
before he was supposed to get the keys, his dream home became
a nightmare.
The property owner said he’d changed his mind because James
had a voucher — a decision the owner said was supported by his
real estate agent. Facing imminent homelessness, James turned
to MBHP Fair Housing. MBHP contacted both the landlord and the
real estate agent, informing them that refusal of housing because
an applicant had a rental voucher was not allowable under the
Massachusetts fair housing law. When neither the owner nor the
agent was willing to reconsider, MBHP assisted James with
his discrimination complaint as it went through the Massachusetts
Commission Against Discrimination and the Massachusetts
Attorney General’s Office. James eventually received a cash
settlement but, more importantly, he became empowered.
“Don’t let anyone talk down to you or treat you any different
than they treat anyone else,” he said. “Stand up for yourself!”
James now lives in a great apartment. He plans to use his
experience as motivation to help others — he wants to return to
college to become a social worker / advocate.
“I stood up for myself, but MBHP was right there behind me,”
he said. “I got treated like a person at MBHP, I was respected.
MBHP has given me the opportunity to move forward in life.”
Administration
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
REVENUE AND SUPPORT
Fiscal Year Ending 6/30/10
Foundation grants
372,938
Corporate grants
187,304
Individual donations
48,417
Program service fees and reimbursements
104,917,033
Investment income
21,764
TOTAL REVENUE AND SUPPORT
105,547,456
EXPENSES
Program services
General administrative
Fund-raising
TOTAL EXPENSES
Fiscal Year Ending 6/30/09
790,989
240,092
103,314,490
80,162
104,425,733
105,861,423
185,326
203,363
106,250,112
104,906,190
297,522
210,650
105,414,362
Excess/(deficit) of revenue over expenses
Net assets, beginning of year
(702,656)
5,859,103
(988,629)
6,847,732
Excess/(deficit) of revenue over expenses
Net assets, end of year
(702,656)
5,156,447
(988,629)
5,859,103
In accordance with state and federal requirements, an audit of MBHP’s Fiscal Year 2010
financials was completed in October by Daniel Dennis & Company, LLP. MBHP is proud
to announce that we received a clean audit and are in full compliance with all local,
state and federal accounting and reporting guidelines.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lowell Richards
Co-Chairman of the Board
Chief Development Officer
Massachusetts Port Authority
Cynthia Lacasse
President
John Hancock Realty Advisors, Inc.,
Vice President
John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.
Steven Rioff
Co-Chairman of the Board
Partner
MB Management Company
Terry Saunders Lane
Senior Fellow
Center for Social Policy
University of Massachusetts-Boston
Paul Kraft
Treasurer
Partner
Financial Services Industries
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Gail Latimore
Executive Director
Codman Square Neighborhood
Development Corporation
Mark Nuccio
Clerk
Partner, Ropes & Gray LLP
Nader Acevedo
Vice President
Hispanic American Chamber Institute
Kevin Boyle
Senior Vice President
Commercial Real Estate Division
Citizens Bank
Susanne Marzi Cameron
Senior Vice President and Director
Massachusetts Community Development
Citi
Donald Conover
Executive Vice President
Global Realty & Procurement Services
State Street Corporation
Lyndia Downie
President and Executive Director
Pine Street Inn
Elizabeth Gruber
Senior Vice President
Community Development
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Christopher Harris
Philanthropic Services Officer
The Boston Foundation
Langley Keyes
Professor Emeritus
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Matthew Martinez
Founder and Principal
Beacon Hill Property Group
Esther Schlorholtz
Senior Vice President
Director of Community Investment
Boston Private Bank & Trust Company
In March 2010, MBHP saluted its 4,300 property owners and managers at
the annual Property Owners Appreciation Event. Shown are National Grid’s
Carmen Fields, Boston’s Chief of Environmental and Energy Services James
Hunt, MBHP Director of Client Services Maura Pensak, MBHP property
owner Dave Cooper, and MBHP Executive Director Chris Norris. Cooper
was a recipient of one of the evening’s outstanding property owner awards.
In January 2010, MBHP presented Stephen Freeman, Beth Wagner and
Marshall James with its annual Embracing the Mission awards for
exceptional work performance based on innovation, initiative and enthusiasm.
Gail Steketee
Dean and Professor
Boston University School of Social Work
SENIOR STAFF
Christopher T. Norris
Executive Director
Jeffrey Cordon
Chief Operating Officer
(retired August 2010)
Rev. Anne M. Rousseau
Chief Financial Officer
Carla E. Bennett
Director of Development
Kevin Donaher
Director of Property Owner
and Inspectional Services
Mary Doyle
Director of Policy and Program
Development
In October 2009, MBHP presented Christopher McKnight with its
Partnership Award for exemplifying MBHP’s commitment to working
collaboratively to advance MBHP’s mission. Kosal Saren received the agency’s
Performance Award in recognition of her excellent work-related results.
Susan Nohl
Director of Leased Housing
Maura Pensak
Director of Client Services
MBHP 2010 ANNUAL REPORT 9
Supporting MBHP
Because housing stability requires more than just four walls and a roof,
housing is where our service begins, not where it ends. However, the rental
assistance funds we administer generally do not provide for ongoing
stabilization support. To respond to the changing housing needs of
individuals, families and communities through the development and
implementation of rental assistance programs and support services,
MBHP relies on private funding. Generous donations from private sources
enable us to provide our specialized services, to maintain best practices
in service delivery and advocacy, and to ensure a financially healthy
organization. Privately raised funds allow MBHP to reach beyond our core
work and help individuals and families who are struggling temporarily
with the challenges of housing instability or financial crisis.
Bob Whittlesey has been a leader in the affordable housing field since the 1960s.
A LEADER IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
B
Alayna Van Tassel, Jesse Edsel-Vetter and Lauren Sacco raised funds for MBHP by running in
Boston’s famous marathon.
ENDING HOMELESSNESS, ONE MILE AT A TIME
Three runners with close ties to MBHP took to the streets of Boston
April l 9 and logged 26.2 miles each to end homelessness. Jesse Edsell-Vetter,
Alayna Van Tassel and Lauren Sacco fulfilled their dreams of running
Boston’s famous marathon while drawing attention to and supporting
affordable housing. Seasoned marathoner and MBHP case management
specialist Edsell-Vetter works closely with MBHP clients at risk of losing
their housing due to hoarding and sanitation issues. As staffers for Senator
Patricia Jehlen, Van Tassel and Sacco have referred countless constituents
to MBHP for various housing questions and needs. Collectively, the team
raised more than $22,000 to benefit MBHP’s programs and services
through a variety of special events and raffles, social networking activities
and word of mouth. Special thanks are also due for the generous donation
of three Marathon entries to MBHP by John Hancock Financial Services.
10 MBHP 2010 ANNUAL REPORT
ob Whittlesey’s ties to MBHP go back to the days when he
served as our executive director from 1983 to 1988, president
from 1989 to 1990, and a member of the Board of Directors from
1990 to 1994. Today, he remains an admirer and supporter.
Whittlesey was part of the birth of MBHP in the 1980s, when it
was known as Boston Housing Partnership (BHP). He and a group
of fellow visionaries created the private-public-nonprofit partnership
that redeveloped, renovated and saved more than two thousand
units of affordable housing in Boston. In the early 1990s Whittlesey,
using BHP/MBHP as a model, was one of the founders of the
National Association of Housing Partnerships, now known as the
Housing Partnership Network.
Whittlesey has been known by community development
corporations, banks, foundations and funding agencies as a point
man to get things done in the affordable housing field since the
1960s. He watched as MBHP transitioned from a developmentfocused agency to a leased housing–focused agency. And his
support of MBHP has never wavered.
“I’m loyal to the idea of MBHP,” he said. “I have a great,
abiding interest in the programs and good work MBHP does.”
But moreover, Whittlesey continues to support MBHP financially
because he watched “a very special corporation evolving, one
that is taking care of its clients.” He credits the ongoing success
of MBHP to its Board of Directors, its leadership and staff, and
its solid financial connections to its business and private partners.
MBHP MEETING THE NEED
MBHP is the largest regional provider of rental assistance in Massachusetts,
serving Boston and 29 surrounding communities. Working with 7,600
tenants and 4,300 property owners, MBHP administers nearly $ l 05 million
in federal and state rental subsidies to help individuals and families of
low and moderate incomes find and retain decent, affordable housing.
However, with nearly 5,000 families, including approximately l 0,000
children, and 24,000 unaccompanied adults experiencing homelessness
each year in Massachusetts, it is crucial for us to extend our work beyond
rental assistance.
MBHP’s privately funded, extensive, specialized services help bridge the
gaps in static or declining rental assistance funding, extremely limited
voucher availability, and the ever-increasing need for housing assistance.
WHERE DO YOUR FUND-RAISING DOLLARS GO?
In Fiscal Year 20 l 0, using privately-raised funds, MBHP was able to:
2˜˜p¥F˜hpF˜š^!m˜œQ«˜O!hadaF’˜p£š˜pO ˜hpšFd˜’^FdšF˜!m=˜amšp˜^p£’amV
2˜˜F¥Fmš˜hpF˜š^!m˜¡œ«˜am=a¥a=£!d’˜!m=˜O!hadaF’˜Oph˜FmšFamV˜’^FdšF
2˜˜
Fdz˜zF’F¥F˜š^F˜šFm!m3aF’˜pO ˜hpF˜š^!m˜•««˜O!hadaF’
2˜˜p¥a=F˜’£zzpš˜šp˜l 50 families facing foreclosure.
2˜˜F’zpm=˜šp˜hpF˜š^!m˜l 2,600 phone inquiries and 698 walk-in requests
for information and assistance through our Client Services program.
MBHP’s privately-funded, specialized services include:
2˜˜The Hoarding and Sanitation Initiative, which helps prevent homelessness due to the third leading cause of eviction in Massachusetts.
2˜˜Specialized Intensive Programs and Services, which provide support
and in-depth, home-based case management to elders, people with
disabilities, and others with service needs to help them remain in their
own homes and avoid homelessness.
2˜˜The Foreclosure Prevention and Tenancy Preservation Initiative,
which partners with property owners to prevent foreclosure and works
with tenants to preserve tenancies or plan for relocations.
2˜˜The Emergency Assistance Fund, which provides one-time financial
assistance to families and individuals to obtain or maintain housing.
2˜˜The Fair Housing Initiative, which provides training and technical
assistance to tenants, property owners, staff and partnering agencies on
their rights and responsibilities under fair housing laws.
Financial gifts allow us to fulfill our mission of helping those in need find
and retain decent, affordable housing and work toward increased selfsufficiency. Our donors support our mission by helping us provide much
needed assistance to tenants and property owners in the 30 communities
that we serve. We thank all of our donors for their generous support.
Heather was in danger of losing her home until she received help from MBHP’s privatelyfunded Foreclosure Prevention and Tenancy Preservation Initiative.
PRIVATELY-FUNDED PROGRAM SAVES HOME
W
hen she bought her Watertown home in 1991, Heather
started making house payments religiously and never thought
that one day she would almost lose the home she was close to fully
owning. But two years ago, when Heather became ill, she was
in and out of the hospital and at times unable to work. She tried to
keep up with her house payments, but over time she fell behind.
“When I missed my third payment in 18 months, the bank
started the foreclosure process,” she said.
Heather contacted her bank and requested a loan modification.
Months of submitting and resubmitting paperwork followed,
and Heather’s repeated calls to the lender produced no useful
information or answers to her request.
Frustrated, Heather contacted MBHP’s Foreclosure Prevention
and Tenancy Preservation program. MBHP resubmitted her loan
modification forms with more success. The paperwork didn’t get
lost, but her modification request was denied for insufficient income.
“At this point I was collecting disability and I had a part-time
job,” she said. “MBHP noticed the lender wasn’t counting my job
income and that the lender had scheduled an auction on my
home.” By pointing out the error, MBHP succeeded in getting the
auction canceled. “After that I got my trial loan modification!”
Now that Heather has made her trial loan modification payments in full and on time, she is in the process of working with
the bank on a permanent modification. But she said she wouldn’t
have been able to save her home without MBHP’s help.
“MBHP helped me feel better about the situation,” she said.
“Once things started coming out of MBHP’s office, the paperwork
stopped getting lost and I started getting better responses from
the bank — there was a change in attitude.’”
MBHP 2010 ANNUAL REPORT 11
Fiscal Year 20 l 0 Contributors
MBHP gratefully acknowledges the
generous support of the following
donors during Fiscal Year 2010.
CONTRACTS
Massachusetts Department of Housing
and Community Development
City of Boston Department of
Neighborhood Development
Community Economic Development
Assistance Corporation
Housing Partnership Network
Massachusetts Housing and
Shelter Alliance
Proyecto Opciones
City of Newton
Urban Edge
Travelers Aid Family Services
Jewish Family & Children’s Services
BUSINESSES, CORPORATIONS
AND FOUNDATIONS
$100,000+
State Street Foundation, Inc.
$50,000–$99,999
United Way of Massachusetts Bay
and Merrimack Valley
$10,000–$49,999
BNY Mellon
Citi
Citizens Bank Foundation
Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation
Linde Family Foundation
Procter & Gamble Corporate
Giving Fund
Sovereign Bank
Third Sector New England
$5,000–$9,999
Boston Capital
Boston Private Bank & Trust Company
Deloitte
Lawrence Model Lodging Houses Trust
National Grid
One Family, Inc.
Ropes & Gray LLP
Sailors’ Snug Harbor of Boston
The Paul and Phyllis Fireman
Charitable Foundation
$1,000–$4,999
ABCD, Inc.
Bank of America
Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Massachusetts, Inc.
The Boston Foundation
Bushrod H. Campbell and Adah F. Hall
Charity Fund
Carlin, Charron & Rosen LLP
Citizens’ Housing and Planning
Association
Daniel Dennis & Company LLP
Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston
John Hancock
12 MBHP 2010 ANNUAL REPORT
Krokidas & Bluestein LLP
National Development, LP
Nixon Peabody LLP
Pegasystems Inc.
The Hearthstone Corporation
The Society of King’s Chapel
UP TO $999
AAA of Southern New England
Boston Community Capital
Boston University School of
Social Work
Casa Esperanza, Inc.
City of Boston Credit Union
City Realty Group
Codman Square Neighborhood
Development Corporation
Combined Federal Campaign
Community Economic Development
Assistance Corp.
Constructive Advisors
Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston
Franklin County Regional Housing and
Redevelopment Authority
Housing Partnership Network
Initiative For A New Economy
Kevin P. Martin & Associates, P.C.
Massachusetts Association
of Community Development
Corporations
Massachusetts Housing Investment
Corporation
Massachusetts Housing Partnership
New Chelsea Realty
Pine Street Inn
RCAP Solutions
Regional Housing Network of
Massachusetts
The Family to Family Project
United Benefit Services LLC
Victory Programs
Watermark Environmental, Inc.
Women’s Lunch Place
IN HONORARIUM/MEMORIAM
In Honor of Barrie-Goffredo-McCabe
Family Christmas
In Honor of Brandon Running
Association
In Honor of Grace Friedman
In Honor of Rennie Elliott & John Bry
In Honor of Sylvia Revay and
Kevin Donaher
In Honor of the Haddigan Family
In Memory of Anita Montoya
In Memory of Dorothy Millman
In Memory of Dr. William E. Wymer
In Memory of Judith Fishman
In Memory of Judy Kelliher
In Memory of Margaret Rousseau
In Memory of Martin Haddigan
In Memory of Nancy Leferman
In Memory of Paul Bain
In Memory of Robert Mullen
MATCHING GIFTS
Covidien Employee Matching
Gift Program
John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.
Matching Gifts Program
State Street Matching Gift Program
INDIVIDUALS
$5,000–$9,999
Lowell and Karen Richards
Steven J. Rioff
$1,000–$4,999
Aliad Fund
Robert L. Beal
Carla E. Bennett
William S. Edgerly
Jesse and Carolyn Edsell-Vetter
Paul and Amy Kraft
Ronald E. Logue and
Kathleen McGillycuddy
Peter Munkenbeck
Mark V. Nuccio
Esther Schlorholtz and
Joseph A. Hunter
Miriam K. Schwartz
$500–$999
Anonymous
Martina Conlon
Lyndia Downie and John Francis
William and Catherine Guiney
Christopher T. Norris and Drew Bartley
Terry Saunders Lane
Angela and Dorea Vierling-Claassen
Beth and Thomas Wagner
Robert B. Whittlesey
$250–$499
Michael Alterman
Peggy Brown
Ferdinand Colloredo-Mansfeld
Mary Doyle
Lydia Edsell
Dr. Laura Kehoe and Eric Maillis
Langley C. Keyes
Cynthia Lacasse and Samuel Ogden
Rev. Anne Rousseau and Nancy Sableski
Marie Schweitzer
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Snyder
Gail Steketee and Brian McCorkle
Alayna Van Tassel
Janet Van Tassel
UP TO $249
Foster L. Aborn and Sara Holbrook
Nader Acevedo
George Alexakos
Lynne A. Ames
Felix Amsler
Andrew E. Anderson
Catherine Anderson
Jean Anderson
Laura Anderson
Tara Anderson
Colebert and Alice Andrus
Virginia Araby
Aliza Arzt and Meredith Porter
Tracy Avant
Michael Avitzur
Helen Babcock
Susan Babcock
Meredith Ballou
Bill and Kathy Bambach
Jennifer Barrelle
Daniel G. Barrie
Bridget Basilico
Bethany Bassett
Desiree G. Baynes
Carla Beaudoin
Meryl Becker and Richard Rabin
Ramiza Begic
David and Cindy Blank-Edelman
Christopher Blood
Nathalie Boisard-Beudin
Karen M. Bolton
Kevin Boyle
Alexia Bratiotis
Christiana Bratiotis
George and Gloria Bratiotis
Miriam Bronstein
Donald W. Brown
Francis Brown
Robert C. Buffum, Jr.
Kim Burgess
Dale Burnett
Karen Buttiglieri
Melissa Callan
Tiffany Camp
Raymond Carle
Ben Carlson
Sean Caron
Kathleen A. Carpenter
Aubre Carreon Aguilar
Peggy and Kai Chan
Barbara Chandler
Lisa G. Chapnick
Christine Cipcic
Patrick and Mary Jane Clancy
Laurel Clark
Naomi Cliffer
Carole S. Cohen
Mary E. Collins
Jeffrey and Nadine Cordon
G. Peter Cowenhoven
Julie Crockford
Thomas Crohan
Frank Crosby
The Cruz-Lemus Family
Courtney Curran
Lisa De Saxe Zerden
Damnath De Tissera
Antoinette Delmonico
Liza DeMichele
Robin Dinowitz
James V. DiPaola
Ann M. Dolan
Kevin and Karen Donaher
The Honorable Paul J. Donato
Paul J. Donovan
Jaclyn C. Drake
Karen Eames
Carolyn Edsell-Vetter
Yonatan Edsell-Vetter
Alison Egan
Stanley J. Eichner
Rennie Elliott and John Bry
Louise Elving
Erin Fallon
Courtney Feeley Karp
Ari Fertig
Benjamin Fertig
Catherine Finneran
Maureen Fitzgerald and Edward Chase
Shalom Flank
Chris Ford
Aida Franquiz
Alphonse R. Frezza
Heidi Friedman
Jessica Friswell
Sheila Friswell
Lindsay Galbreath
Gary Garber
Paul Geffken
Scott Gessner
Michael Glick
Deborah Goddard
Mary Golden
Terence and Diane Golden
Sharon Gorajec
Donna Goven
Benjamin Greenberg
Elizabeth Gruber
Kelly Guenther
William Haberland
Karen A. Haerinck
Laurel Halpin
Virginia Hamilton
Christopher Harris
Rachel Heller
Kelly Hickson
Peter Hollands
Jennifer L. Hollis
Kara Holmquist
Susan Hortenstine
Rawson Hubbell
Alicia Ianiere
Mr. and Mrs. James
Roger O. Jeanty
Anne Johnson
Heather Joines
Ethel M. Jones
Kate Jordan
Mary Joyce
Kim Kapala
Cindy Kearney
Noreen Kearney
Kelly Kearns
John Keating
Erin Keaveney
Krystle Kelly
Patty Kelly
Kristen Kelso
Maureen Khoury
Han Sung Kim and Sook Hyun Kim
Christina Knowles
Jake Lambert
Sarah Lamitie and
Douglas C. Matthews
Gail Latimore
Frances-Lee Laughlin
Mr. & Mrs. Michael A. Lee
Bruce and Janet Liddell
Luz M. Lopez
Martin and Carol Loria
Lucie A. Lovell
Anthony and Camille Lucci
Margaret A. Lynch
Linda MacDow
Richard B. MacKinnon
Barbara Macy
Synge Maher
Gabrielle Maisels
Keith Maley
Lisa Mariotti
Louise Marks
Elaine Martin
Nicholas Martinelli
Matthew A. Martinez
Susanne Marzi Cameron
Ethan Mascoop
Tia Mazzola
Victoria McCarthy
Colin P. McGovern
Elizabeth Meadows
Lyn Mello and Beth Anderson
Christina Miller
Kelly Mills-Dick
Celina E. Miranda and
Kevan Anthony Barton
Barbara Molla
Edwin Montolio
Lazarus Morrison
Barbara G. Morton
Jordana Muroff
Sharon Nasser
James Newton
Danforth Nicholas
Karla Nicholson
James and Patricia O’Brien
Lisa O’Connor
Kenneth and Sandra Johnson
Leslie L. Olson
Dulce Ong
Johanna Soris
Suzanne Otte
CTE Steven C. Panagiotakos
Katherine J. Peila
Maura Pensak and Nancy Alach
Enrique Perez
Judy Perlman
James and Dorothy Peters
Bethany Pickard
Jason Pierce
Cyndi Pierie
June Pietrantoni
Elizabeth Potskowski
Lawrence Powers
Pilar Pueyo
Rajalakshmi Rajan
Anne Randall
Emily Ravenscroft
Alexsis Regan
Gail Regan
Sylvia and Thomas Revay
Kaelan Richards
Peggi Robart
Michael Robertson
Stephen Roche
Andrew Rooney
Caryn-Amy Rose
Lawrence Rosenwald
Carol Rourke
Michael and Tara Rousseau
Robert Rudnick
Thomas Ryan
Julie Ryder
Allison Sacco
Lauren Sacco
Barbara Santos
Sarah Saunders
Diane Saville
Marsha Savilonis
Richard E. Savoy
Juliet Schiff
Eric Secoy
Joshua and Talya Shalem
Graham Shalgian
Havurat Shalom
Karen Shaw
Adrienne Shine
Sarah Shugars
Elise Shutzer
Amy Sibal
Harold Silliman
Ava Skeete
Lisa B. Sloane and Robert L. Nason
Marc Slotnick
Richard L. Smith and Carol A. Marine
Joan Smyth
Timothy Snyder
Rusty Stieff
Elizabeth Sullivan
John Sullivan
Paul Sullivan
Karen Sunnarborg
Jennifer Tabor
Anne Tirrell
Elaine Titus
The Honorable Steven A. Tolman
Toni Tugenberg
Kathleen Tullberg
Kathy Turner
Grace Van Tassel
Nancy Van Tassel
Paul Van Tassel
Patricia Verry
Christopher J. Wade
Thomas Walsh
Martin Walsh II
Joel Watson and Eugenia Handler
Maire Lee Webster
Rachel Weidinger
Nancy Weiss
Howard and Judith Wensley
Leah Wentworth
Kelly Will
Noble Williams
Jennie Williamson
Jennifer Willis
Elizabeth Worrick
Donations listed are for the period of July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010. Although we have
made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the list of donors, we apologize in advance
for any misspellings, omissions or other errors. Please inform us of any errors by calling
the Development Office at (617) 425-6705 so we can correct our records. Thank you for
your understanding and for your generous support of MBHP.
,INCOLN 3TREET TH &LOOR s "OSTON -! s WWWMBHPORG
0HONE s -! ONLY s %MAIL INFO
MBHPORG
Writer: Beth Wagner, MBHP Communications Manager
Copy Editors: Jeff DiPerna, Wendy Gonick
Photography: Bethany Versoy, Beth Wagner, Kelly Guenther, Justin Knight
House photo on cover: ©istock.com/Andrea Hill
Graphic Design: tabula rasa graphic design
Printing: Sterling Printing
4 Printed on recycled paper
MBHP 2010 ANNUAL REPORT 13
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE PAID
BOSTON MA
PERMIT NO. 54162
125 Lincoln Street s 5th Floor s Boston, MA 02111-2503
PROMOTING SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Promoting self-sufficiency is an integral part of MBHP’s
mission. Empowering tenants to develop long-term
goals; to seek education, resources and training to achieve
those goals; and to work toward self-sufficiency and
housing stability is key to ending the cycle of poverty.
MBHP’s Family Self-Sufficiency program (FSS)
helps Section 8 rental assistance tenants move toward
increased economic self-sufficiency and housing stability
through one-on-one advising, goal setting, education
and career development, budgeting and credit improvement, and savings. Participants in this five-year program
pay a larger portion of their rent as their income rises.
This increase is put into an individual escrow savings
account which, upon graduation, the participant can use
for higher education or to buy a home. In Fiscal Year
20 l 0, the l 6 FSS program graduates had an average
increase in annual income of $23,526 and an average
escrow account disbursement of $ l 4,503.
As the fiscal year closed, MBHP learned that the
Boston Foundation had awarded a $500,000, five-year
grant so that we could expand the FSS program deep
into three neighborhoods where hundreds more families
can benefit from it. The Fairmount Initiative will focus
FSS resources in the Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan
areas along the Fairmount Corridor. Partnering with
neighborhood-based organizations, MBHP will
encourage those who receive Section 8 rental assistance
to participate in the FSS program and receive services
and resources right in their own neighborhoods.
W
hen Anjanette received
her Section 8 voucher
several years ago, she wanted
it to be temporary. She saw it
as a way to change her life and
work toward self sufficiency.
She set her sights on getting
an education, landing a good
job, and making sure she
and her two sons had a safe,
secure place to call home.
Then her MBHP program
representative told her about
another tool that brought her
vision even closer to becoming
a reality: the MBHP Family
Self-Sufficiency Program.
Anjanette graduated from
the five-year program in 2010.
Now she has a good job, a
home she may own soon, and
a future she anticipates to be
free of any public assistance.
“The FSS is a win-win
situation,” she said. “I’m very
pleased with the success of
the program. The MBHP support team provides you with a lot of resources, and
someone is always available to help you.”
Anjanette said her advisor helped her map out her goals, then revamp them as
necessary. Monthly evaluations helped keep her on track toward improving her
credit and, ultimately, owning her own home.
Anjanette still has her Section 8 voucher, although she pays most of the rent
herself now. She rents the house next door to her parents’ home where she grew
up, and her sons get to see their grandparents every day. She and her landlord are
discussing the possibility of her buying the home using her FSS savings account
as the down payment.
“My son will learn to ride a bike on the same street where I learned how to ride
my bike!” she said.