Funding will help create or preserve 61 units of sober housing in Boston, Dartmouth, Norton and Worcester
BOSTON – February 18, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — MassHousing has awarded $290,000 to support sober housing programs in Boston, Dartmouth, Norton and Worcester.
The MassHousing grants will come from the Center for Community Recovery Innovations, Inc. (CCRI), a nonprofit subsidiary corporation of MassHousing that supports non-profits that create or preserve affordable sober housing in Massachusetts for recovering substance abusers. CCRI to date has awarded more than $7 million in grants for more than 1,600 units of substance-free housing in nearly 40 communities for men, women, families, veterans, the homeless and ex-offenders.
“There is a critical need for affordable sober housing in Massachusetts and these CCRI grants play an important role in completing the financing necessary for these projects,” said MassHousing Executive Director Thomas R. Gleason. “Having an affordable place to live in a sober environment is a major first step in the recovery from addiction.”
Receiving grants in the latest round of CCRI funding are:
• New England Center for Homeless Veterans, Boston, $75,000 to help create 35 new efficiency apartments for formerly homeless veterans.
• Partners in Housing, Dartmouth, $75,000 to help create 9 new efficiency apartments for homeless and at-risk veterans in the former State Police barracks, now named the O’Connor-Sisson House.
• North Cottage Program, Inc., Norton, $75,000 to help create 5 new units of affordable sober housing for men. Three of the units will be accessible to disabled residents.
• Dismas House of Massachusetts, Inc., Worcester, $65,000 to increase energy efficiency through solar power for 12 units of affordable sober housing.
About CCRI
The Center For Community Recovery Innovations, Inc., issues an annual Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit projects for funding. The proposals that are selected need to meet CCRI’s current priorities and eligibility categories. The grants are typically used as one-time gap funding for capital projects that increase or improve the stock of affordable sober housing in Massachusetts. Other proposals that provide services for residents in MassHousing-financed rental housing, specifically those that address alcohol and/or drug abuse or addiction, are also considered for funding. CCRI grant recipients must be 501c3 non-profit organizations and matching funds must be provided. All proposals and applicant qualifications are stringently reviewed and vetted by MassHousing.
MassHousing Awards $290,000 for Affordable Sober Housing
About MassHousing
MassHousing (The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency) is an independent, quasi-public agency created in 1966 and charged with providing financing for affordable housing in Massachusetts. The Agency raises capital by selling bonds and lends the proceeds to low- and moderate-income homebuyers and homeowners, and to developers who build or preserve affordable and/or mixed-income rental housing. MassHousing does not use taxpayer dollars to sustain its operations, although it administers some publicly funded programs on behalf of the Commonwealth. Since its inception, MassHousing has provided more than $16 billion for affordable housing. For more information, visit the MassHousing website at www.masshousing.com, follow us on Twitter @MassHousing, subscribe to our blog and Like us on Facebook.
Media Contacts
Eric Gedstad: 617.854.1079 | egedstad (at) masshousing (dot) com
Tom Farmer: 617.854.1843 | tfarmer (at) masshousing (dot) com
