MassHousing’s Edward Chase Honored for His Efforts to End Homelessness

Named as a Change Agent by UMass Boston’s Center for Social Policy

BOSTON – November 12, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — MassHousing’s Edward Chase has been honored by UMass Boston’s Center for Social Policy for his efforts to end homelessness.

Chase, who works in MassHousing’s Community Services Department, was named as a Change Agent by UMass Boston during a recent conference at the college entitled Looking Forward to the Journey’s End. The event marked the 30th anniversary of the Massachusetts Public Shelter System and was held to initiate action for permanently ending homelessness in Massachusetts.

Chase was among nine individuals, businesses and organizations honored as Change Agents who have “enabled huge strides in the journey to eradicate homelessness.” “Ed has spent his entire career working selflessly on behalf of some of our most vulnerable citizens,” said MassHousing Executive Director Thomas R. Gleason. “While Ed works every day to help homeless individuals and families find an affordable, decent home to live in, it’s his compassion and dedication that sets him apart and makes him so woy of this honor.”

Chase has been with MassHousing for 12 years, where he directs MassHousing’s Center for Community Recovery Innovations (CCRI) providing financing to create and preserve affordable sober housing. He manages MassHousing’s Hoarding initiatives and chairs the Massachusetts Statewide Steering Committee on Hoarding, bringing together the various stakeholders on this issue.

Chase also represents MassHousing in various interagency collaborations on housing and disability programs. Chase is also responsible for staff and program oversight of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and 504/ADA compliance training and technical assistance. He also oversees MassHousing’s role in managing various disability programs including the Tenancy Preservation Program and the DMH/DDS Set-Aside Program.

Prior to joining MassHousing, Chase was the director of Housing and Homeless Programs for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services where he chaired the Interagency Task force for Housing and Homelessness and managed the statewide Continuum of Care process for Massachusetts.

Chase has more than 25 years of experience in the design, management and operations of housing and service programs, including grant procurement and contract administration.

“It’s truly an honor, humbling as it is, to be recognized by many persons who have worked tirelessly on the issue of family homelessness over the last 30 years,” said Chase. “I want to thank those individuals who nominated me as well as Homes for Families and the Center for Social Policy for convening this event, and all those who continue to work towards a higher goal of ending homelessness.”

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