2023 HIGHLIGHTS

Metro Housing's Housing Hub introduced monthly Housing Clinics during FY23. These clinics are staffed by the Housing Consumer Education Center and assist in housing search (process, research, etc.), affordable housing application assistance and tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities. Housing Hub is Metro Housing's primary resource that is FREE and open to the public. Housing Hub staff help families address crises, educate and assist tenants and property owners.

Metro Housing joined Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) at a grantee open house to highlight the progress made as a result of the $1 million grant we received in 2021 to explore the inequality of calculating rent shares for working families with rental vouchers. Senior leaders and board members from BIDMC, employees, philanthropic organizations, legislators, and members of the community were in attendance. Working to Opportunity Program Manager, Amanda Baldwin, represented Metro Housing. She is pictured above with Robert Torres, Director, Community Benefits Boston Region at BIDMC and current Metro Housing Board member.

Hazel O’Neil was selected as the 2023 recipient of the Lowell L. Richards, III Fellowship for Leadership and Public Service. She plans to graduate with a Master of City Planning degree from MIT in 2024. Hazel completed her fellowship this past summer with the Massachusetts Port Authority’s (Massport) Real Estate and Asset Management Department, where Lowell Richards was Chief Development Officer for more than ten years. Lowell L. Richards, III served on Metro Housing’s Board of Directors for nearly 30 years and as co-chair for twelve years.

To help guide us on our continuing journey toward incorporating DEIB more fully into our culture, policies, and procedures, Metro Housing signed a contract with the Lazu Group, a Boston-based equity, diversity, and inclusion firm. They will work with Metro Housing to create an actionable DEI roadmap with clear goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics. Metro Housing remains committed to hiring a full-time DEIB position and we want to have the best infrastructure in place when that person comes on board.

Champions of Housing honors leaders in our community who share our passion and commitment to ensuring that everyone in Greater Boston has a place to call home. 2022 Champions of Housing honorees were (L-R): Representative Kevin Honan; Emily Loomis of Urban Edge; Jeanne Pinada of Colliers; and Nicholas Chiumenti of Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Not pictured is Frederica Williams of Whittier Street Health Care Center.

Team Metro Housing raised more than $71,000 in 2023, the most ever raised by one of our teams. The amount was equal to an average of $10,000 per runner. Team Metro Housing has had runners compete and raise funds through the Boston Marathon since 2006 thanks to the John Hancock Nonprofit Program. Runners have now raised more than $660,000 to prevent families and individuals throughout Greater Boston from becoming homeless and transition from homelessness to stability.