Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- With the knowledge that over 300 people under the age of 24 sleep on the city's streets or in shelters on any given night, the City of Boston has announced it is dedicating $4.7 million in grant funds to create 157 new homes for homeless youth and young adults through "Rising to the Challenge," an initiative in which the city pledges to work more cohesively with other organizations on youth homelessness.

BOSTON --- Efforts to produce housing with services at a scale big enough to dent the problem took a big step forward earlier this month as the Boston Planning and Development Agency gave the green light to plans by the Pine Street Inn and The Community Builders to co-develop 202 apartments, including 140 with services for people who have been homeless. Plans originally called for 225 units but the plan approved cut 23 mixed-income units. The city's zoning board of appeals still has to grant some variances.

BOSTON --- A study done by an MIT graduate student in conjunction with the housing advocacy group City Life/Vida Urbana has found that eviction rates are much higher in low-income majority nonwhite neighborhoods than in more affluent Boston neighborhoods. The study found that one in 10 private market units in Roxbury had an eviction in the last three years whereas Beacon Hill had just one in 100 units during a similar time period.

IPSWICH --- The town has a new plan to consider for the Bruni Market Place site as owners are still calling for 191 mixed-income apartments, but with a different building mix. In a recent meeting with the Zoning Board of Appeals, developers proposed to cut three buildings from four to three stories and add two more buildings on 2.5 acres to keep the project at 191 apartments.

PROVINCETOWN --- A local developer whose family also employs workers at his family's Marine Specialties store in Provincetown is proposing to build 43 apartments on Route 6. The project, if approved, would consist of 28 dormitory-style units, five studio apartments, nine one-bedroom apartments and one three-bedroom apartment at 207 Route 6. “The genesis for it is our need for employee housing. There was just nothing,” said Patrick Patrick in reference to his family's business, which can't keep employees to work in its store.

BROCKTON --- Last year, Father Bill's and MainSpring House provided shelter for 222 veterans in the Quincy and Brockton area. The story of Mike Ryan is an example of how Father Bill's works to help homeless veterans and give them hope for a better life.