 The Fight to Preserve Affordable Housing in Massachusetts NOAH is part of the state-wide effort to preserve the fundamental law that upholds the right to build affordable housing in the Commonwealth. This law is known as Chapter 40b. It was passed by the Massachusetts Legislature 41 years ago when certain towns rejected affordable senior housing based on their zoning laws (basically regarding density). Without the statute, it is felt that suburban towns would reject housing developments of any kind if a proposal exceeded several units per acre. Towns that have recorded over 10% of their housing as 'affordable' can reject multifamily housing proposals. Towns can also plan and zone for multifamily housing, but most have not done so. Since the inception of the law, nearly 58,000 housing units have been built in Massachusetts and many of these units are for middle class families. The law permits a multifamily (rental or ownership) development to be built if 25% of the units are set aside as 'affordable.' That means that much-needed housing for workers and families gets built. As many know, not everyone wants or can afford a single family home on a one acre lot. Chapter 40b allows both for-profits and non-profits to build quality, multi-family rental or ownership housing. There are organized efforts to repeal Chapter 40b on the ballot this fall. Detractors make exaggerated claims about the law taking away local control, developers making huge profits, and there being no oversight of the process. They claim they want a new affordable law, but they actually propose nothing! Repeal really would mean that discrimination based on race and income would again be allowable in our state. NOAH's mission is to build quality affordable housing for everyone. We must strongly oppose this repeal effort. For more information on Chapter 40b, please visit the CHAPA web site at www.chapa.org. Pictured is NOAH Executive Director Philip Giffee giving testimony this month to the Joint Committee on Housing at the State House on behalf of 40b.
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Washington-Beech BHA Program Celebrates
Its 15th New First-Time Homebuyer!
NOAH staff members Diana Franco and Zaragoza Guerra have been hard at work to create over 50 first-time homebuyers from income-qualified Boston residents. For a limited time, qualified Boston first-time homebuyers could be eligible for up to $20,000 in down-payment assistance for the purchase of a single-family or condominium residence. Through the program, Boston Housing residents or Boston Housing Section 8 Voucher holders can buy a home anywhere in the state of Massachusetts. City of Boston dwellers who are not BHA residents or Section 8 Voucher holders are still eligible, but must purchase their new homes within the City of Boston itself. Participants need to meet certain income requirements, as family income must be between 50% and 80% of the HUD Area Median Income. For further information, please contact Diana Franco at 617-418-8266 or dfranco@noahcdc.org; or Zaragoza Guerra at 617-418-8261 or zguerra@noahcdc.org. This program is sponsored by the Boston Housing Authority and is funded with HUD HOPE VI funds.
Diana Franco, who is a 5.5 year veteran of NOAH, in April became NOAH's Director of Homeownership/BHA Programs. In her new role, Diana will continue leading NOAH's BHA/first-time homebuyer activities as well as now also overseeing its foreclosure prevention/mitigation and financial literacy service lines. Congratulations, Diana!
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 NOAH Welcomes New CBE Director Kimberly Foltz
While we are sad to be losing Dr. Brenda Cotto-Escalera as our Director of Community Building and Environment - she is heading to Texas to take a bilingual education position and be near family - we are happy to announce that her position will be taken by East Boston resident Kimberly Foltz. Kim has served as Interim Executive Director and Board Chair of the 'Bikes Not Bombs' non-profit. She has also worked at the North American Alliance for Fair Employment and at Massachusetts Global Action; and was a founding member and coordinator of 'Encuentro 5', an organizing center for community groups in Boston. Kim is just completing her masters degree in City Planning in Environmental Policy and Planning at MIT. She will bring increased focus to one of the emerging and serious issues of the day, climate change; and she also will bring her expertise and skills to help the community understand how to respond, measure and organize around this topic.
We are holding a luncheon get-together on Wednesday, May 26 at 1:00 PM at NOAH to say a fond farewell to Brenda and to thank her for all the wonderful work that she has done. Please plan to stop by and say "Good-Bye" (and say "Hello" to Kim at the same time)! Everyone is welcome to attend; please RSVP to linda@noahcdc.org.
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 E3C Youth Promote Urban Gardening
This spring, NOAH's E3C youth crew have been busy promoting urban gardening. They have helped build raised gardening beds at private homes in East Boston. Raised beds are often needed in urban environments so that produce is not grown in contaminated soil. They have educated middle school youth in the "Let's Get Movin' Program" in gardening cultivation, starting seedlings, and community outreach
(as pictured). And they planted vegetables at the official kick-off/planting day at NOAH's 'Our Garden' community garden site across from the Umana School on Border Street. If you would like more information or would like to get involved, please contact Diana Baldelomar at, dbaldelomar@noahcdc.org or 617-418-8243. |
 Groundbreaking Planned for June 28th at Stevens Corner in North Andover
Please save the date of June 28th! NOAH plans to hold a groundbreaking celebration at 11:00 AM at its Stevens Corner property at 75 Park Street in North Andover. Many thanks to the Town of North Andover, which has shown tremendous community support, as well as to MHP, MassHousing, MHIC, DHCD and other state and local sources, and, as always, to NeighborWorks America and United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley.
The Governor has been invited to be the lead speaker at this event. The project involves the substantial rehabilitation of a long-vacant nursing home (pictured) into 42 affordable workforce apartment units for low- and moderate-income families. There will be a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. To register now, please click here.
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 Strategic Planning Time Again at NOAH!
For several months, NOAH has been working towards creating a new multi-year Strategic Plan. Many exercises, including extensive SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analyses, have been performed; and repeated input has been obtained from the Board of Directors, community members, and NOAH staff and volunteers. NOAH is defining and reaffirming its strategies, service lines and desired outcomes so as to best help the residents and communities it serves. We are also looking to 'green' NOAH's housing and program lines. We wish to express our gratitude to volunteer consultant Nancy O'Hare (pictured), who has been heading up this effort. Nancy - who is also Executive Director Phil Giffee's wife - has known NOAH since its inception, has strategic planning experience, and has been providing very good leadership of this initiative. She holds a PhD from Boston University and an MBA from MIT. She is currently involved in operations, innovation, and strategy in health care reform. Many thanks, Nancy!
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Ready, Set, Don't Forget:
7th Annual Chelsea River Revel
Is Coming on July 24th
Volunteers are still needed to help arrange the Seventh Annual Chelsea River Revel scheduled for Saturday, July 24th. The event will be held rain or shine on the Meridian Street Bridge, with a theme of 'Green on Blue: Bridging Communities to the Creek'. There are opportunities to assist in planning for refreshments, music, parades, 5k and bicycle races, and more! A Committee Meeting will be held on Thursday, June 17th at 6:00 PM. Tables are being sold to 'for-profits' at $30 and non-profit agencies at $15. If you would like to reach a local audience of between 1500 and 2000, be sure to reserve your spot! Please note the event's date and month change, which was necessary due to construction scheduling for the new Chelsea Street Bridge. For more information, please contact Manlio Mendez at 617-418-8242 or go to www.ChelseaRiverRevel.com.
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Upcoming Events
All events are held at NOAH at 143 Border Street in East Boston, unless indicated otherwise.
Loan Modification/Foreclosure Prevention Clinics
Monday evenings, May 24th and June 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at NOAH. This is the initial counseling and education session for NOAH's foreclosure prevention and mitigation counseling. Attendees should bring recent mortgage-related correspondence or paperwork. These sessions are held in Spanish and in English. All of NOAH's foreclosure avoidance education and counseling sessions are free of charge to distressed homeowners. For additional information, please contact Marie Constance Theodossiou at 617-418-8263.
Celebrating Brenda Cotto-Escalera & Welcoming Kim Foltz!
On Wednesday, May 26th at 1:00 PM at NOAH we will be saying a sad farewell to Dr. Brenda Cotto-Escalera and celebrating her two years of achievements. Please join us to say 'Good-bye'. New CBE Director Kim Foltz will be on hand, so be sure to say 'Hello' to her at the same time. For more information, please contact Linda Miller-Foster at 617-418-8246.
Chelsea Creek Action Group (CCAG) MeetingsThe next CCAG meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 8th, at 6:30 PM at 80 Border Street, room 130. CCAG meetings are now held on the second Tuesday of each month. Newcomers are welcome. For more information, please call Director of Community Building & Organizing Kim Foltz at 617-418-8241.
First-Time Homebuyer Classes
The next course will meet on three consecutive evenings: June 8th, 9th and 10th from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. It will be held in English. To receive a City of Boston certificate, attendees must be present at both sessions. Students learn from industry guest speakers, including Home Inspectors, as well as from NOAH staff, on how best to purchase a home and about appropriate loan products. For more information, please contact BHA Program Assistant Zaragoza Guerra at 617-418-8261.
Moderate Risk Deleading Training
The next Moderate Risk Deleading training class by the Boston Public Health Commission will be held on Thursday, June 10th from 8:15 AM to 5:00 PM. Classes are in both Spanish and in English at NOAH at 143 Border Street in East Boston. All classes are offered FREE to Boston homeowners. The Boston Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is sponsored by a grant from the Attorney General's Office. Please call 617-534-5966 for an application package.
Chelsea River Revel Committee Meeting
On Thursday night, June 17th a meeting of the Chelsea River Revel Event Committee will be held. For additional information, please call Manlio Mendez at 617-418-8242.
Stevens Corner 'Ground-breaking' in North Andover
On Monday, June 28th, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, NOAH will hold a 'ground-breaking' ceremony/luncheon at Stevens Corner in North Andover. For more information or to register, please see above.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
A new session of ESOL coursework is being held. Level I classes are held every Tuesday and Thursday evening. Level II classes are held each Wednesday and Friday. The ongoing English Conversation Group meets each Saturday morning from 10:00 AM to noon; newcomers are welcome! Please contact Community Organizer Manlio Mendez at 617-418-8242 for additional information.
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Make a BIG impact with a SMALL donation!
Please consider making a $25 tax deductible donation to NOAH today. To donate through PayPal, click here. |
Thank you for your interest in NOAH! You can find out further information about NOAH events at our web site calendar at www.noahcdc.org.
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