Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative

CONTACT:

536 Granite Street
Braintree, MA 02184
781-794-1000
website

Doreen Bushashia, President

DESCRIPTION:

Applying business expertise to philanthropy is a fabulous way to benefit our communities, and an area that really stands to benefit is affordable housing. Here we have the excellent example of Peabody Properties, a 100-year-old family-run property management company that takes to heart the creation and preservation of affordable housing. It manages over 10,000 such units in New England (predominately in eastern Massachusetts), and houses some of our neediest neighbors: low- and very low-income seniors; mentally and physically disabled persons; and at-risk families and children. Peabody in 2001 established AH&SC as a charitable arm to preserve affordable housing and to develop, in conjunction with community-based organizations, social programs and services to enhance quality of life for residents. In just 5 years, AH&SC has purchased and preserved 5 Massachusetts facilities (312 units total) and has created services like Resident Program Development, which has funded a computer learning center for youths at its Blue Elm property in Dorchester. It has also been awarded $3.3 million in grants from agencies such as MassHousing and the Department of Housing & Urban Development to support drug prevention initiatives, after-school and summer youth activities, and beautification projects. Affordable housing and care for its residents is a concern for the whole community; won’t you step in and support them?

(2006: HUMAN SERVICES: Well-Being)