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This fall, please protect the 'Vote NO on 2.' |
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NOAH and CCAG (Chelsea Creek Action Group) remain active in the area of Climate Change. In a new initiative, NOAH is partnering with Renew Boston, a City program to provide low- to moderate-income residents with many no-cost home energy efficiency improvements. With federal stimulus funds and utility company rebates, eligible homeowners will be able to upgrade their homes at zero cost, reducing their utility bills and slashing their greenhouse gas emissions. This exciting project will help keep homes affordable while addressing one of today's most critical environmental challenges.
NOAH and CCAG are joining the October 10th 350.org 'Global Work Party' to reduce our neighborhoods' climate impact. We'll be raising awareness about air pollution and greenhouse gasses. Many scientists and climate experts say that 350 parts per million (ppm) is the safe limit for CO2 (carbon dioxide) in our atmosphere. The 350.org site notes: "Accelerating arctic warming and other early climate impacts have led scientists to conclude that we are already above the safe zone at our current 392 ppm, and that unless we are able to rapidly return to below 350 ppm this century, we risk reaching tipping points and irreversible impacts". To join this critical effort, please contact CBE Director Kim Foltz.
After helping to defeat a diesel power plant along Chelsea Creek, CCAG continued to successfully advocate for lower diesel pollution levels by trucks and busses. NOAH has been promoting bicycling as an alternative means of transport, and our youth have been advocating for more bicycle lanes and increased MBTA accessibility for bike riders. (Pictured above: NOAH's E3C youth at one of the River Revel bicycling events.) NOAH has co-hosted three workshops about the impact of global warming on coastal communities with discussions of strategies for adaptation in preparation of severe storm flooding due to rising sea levels. For additional information, please click here.
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CLIMATE CHANGE... We Have to ACT NOW!|
Preventing Foreclosures The 'Act to Stabilize Neighborhoods' recently passed in Massachusetts with the help and support of the NOAH foreclosure prevention staff. Volunteers from the NOAH team (pictured at right) advocated at the State House, coached homeowners to meet with House Speaker Robert DeLeo, participated in a phone-drive, and attended a rally at the Revere City Hall. We thank Speaker DeLeo and our East Boston delegation, Representative Carlo Basile and Senator Anthony Petruccelli, for supporting this important law. Among its provisions, the new legislation will: ■ Provide eviction protection to rent-paying tenants, who could remain in their homes until a new owner purchases the property;
And at the Hynes Center... In August, NOAH partnered with the Patrick Administration's Office of Consumer Affairs and the Boston Department of Neighborhood Development to host a large Foreclosure Prevention Workshop at the Hynes Convention Center. Four hundred and eighteen area homeowners were able to meet 'face-to-face' with representatives from eight mortgage loan companies to potentially re-negotiate their home loans; several received lowered mortgage rates that same day. Many thanks to the staff from the Office of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Neighborhood Development, FDIC, NeighborWorks America and MassHousing for their assistance! If you or someone you know would like to find out more about keeping your home affordable or preventing a foreclosure situation, please contact NOAH at 617-418-8263. |
 Another NOAH New Homeowner!
Nicol is a new, first-time homeowner thanks to the City of Boston BHA 'Washington Beech' project and NOAH. The program gives qualifying participants up to $20,000 for a down payment on a single family home or condominium in Boston. If the participant is a Boston Housing resident or a Boston Housing Section 8 Voucher holder, then they can buy a house or condo anywhere in Massachusetts. Nicol recounts that when she looks around at her new space, she is very pleased that she was able to be part of the City and NOAH program. She and her two daughters are happy to be in their own new home. Nicol stated "I wish there was something I could do to show NOAH how grateful I am". Congratulations to Nicol and her family! For more information about the BHA 'Washington Beech' program, contact Diana Franco at 617-418-8266 or dfranco@noahcdc.org.
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Helping Boston Homeowners Stay Warm Eligible homeowners include occupants of residential one-to-four family properties in the City of Boston who are 60 years of age and older OR Boston homeowners with children under six; and whose income does not exceed 80% of Area Median Income. An approved licensed and insured contractor will perform all work. HeatWorks Plus eligible participants may receive: a new furnace, an ABCD energy audit; weatherization and insulation services; technical assistance from DND construction specialists; or grants and/or 0% interest deferred loans. If you know of anyone who would benefit from these services or if you have any questions about HeatWorks Plus or the Senior Home Repair Program please contact Anthony D'Andrea at (617) 418-8265 or adandrea@noahcdc.org. |
 NOAH Makes a Big Splash atUtah 'River Rally'
Melinda Alverado-Vega represented NOAH at a recent River Rally environmental conference in Utah. The conference brought together organizers from across the country who advocate for the environmental health of US rivers. Melinda, who is one of NOAH's two community organizers, gave a very popular presentation on using rivers as a focal point for community organizing. She explained that in recent Chelsea Creek Action Group campaigns the communities surrounding the Chelsea Creek have been able to unite for environmental protection and restoration. In 2007, the community defeated a proposal by the Cape Wind developer to build a diesel power plant on the water near a Chelsea elementary school. Another possible opportunity is currently underway that could direct lawsuit funds from the 2006 Exxon Mobile oil spill toward a CCAG project to restore the old Hess site or to other important parcels of waterfront property on the Creek that the City has also proposed.
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 Stevens Corner Groundbreaking Local and state officials helped celebrate the groundbreaking of NOAH's 42-unit affordable housing complex at a former assisted living center in North Andover. Speakers included Secretary of Housing & Economic Development Greg Bialecki, Undersecretary of Housing & Community Development Tina Brooks, State Representatives Barbara L'Italien and David Torrisi, MHIC's Peter Sargent, MHP's David Rockwell, MassHousing's Tom Gleason, CEDAC's Roger Herzog, TD Bank's Chris Traczk, Tracy Watson of the North Andover Board of Selectmen and George Koehler of the North Andover Housing Partnership. The project at 75 Park Street is expected to take about a year to complete. There will be five one-bedroom, 32 two-bedroom, and five three-bedroom apartments; including three units for the disabled. The apartments will be available to working families who earn below 60% of the area median income. The $10.1 million project is being funded through a combination of federal, state and local dollars.
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Please Save The Date
NOAH will hold its 22nd Annual Meeting and Holiday Party on Thursday, December 16th, at Spinelli's in East Boston. We hope that you will be able to join us for a fun evening!
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And Remember to Vote No on 2!
Help keep affordable housing in Massachusetts for our senior citizens and our working families - Vote no on 2! For more information on this important topic, please click here.
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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, October 4th, 18th, and 25th 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 617-418-8263.
Know What's Up Concert: "Don't Cut the Beat"
Friday night, October 8th from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Zumix, 260 Sumner Street in East
Boston. Help advocate for maintaining funding for music/the arts in the Boston schools! Come to the next Know What's Up youth concert for live performances, an 'open mic' session, a raffle for musical instruments, and more. For more information, contact Diana Baldelomar at 617-418-8243. Chelsea Creek Action Group (CCAG) Meetings
The next CCAG meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 10th, at 6:30 PM at 80 Border Street, room 130. CCAG meetings are now held on the second Wednesday of each month. Newcomers are welcome. The meeting will focus on the 10/10/10 Global Work Party goals of CO2 reduction. 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 two Saturdays, October 2nd and 16th from 9:30 AM to 2:30 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.
Election Day: Please Vote NO on 2!
Please help save affordable housing in the Commonwealth. Vote "NO" on 2 on November 2nd to enable affordable housing to be built for seniors and working families in Massachusetts. Click here for more 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. |
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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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