@HOME, Summer, 2021

OPERATIONAL UPDATE

Since the start of the pandemic, the team at Metro Housing has remained committed to helping those in need.

Although offices have been physically closed to the public, our staff has continued to work remotely - and some have been working safely from the office. While we anticipate re-opening the lobby this fall, participants of our programs continue to have many ways to deliver materials to us: in person at our drop-box, by regular mail, and electronically.

As more members of our community become vaccinated, Metro Housing will continue to monitor the advice of the CDC to determine when we allow for in-person appointments at our offices at 1411 Tremont Street.

Financial Assistance Averaging

$10M+ Monthly

In response to the ongoing COVID-housing crisis, Metro Housing has increased its organizational capacity and is now averaging more than $10 million per month in emergency rental assistance funding. Payments hit a high point of more than $13 million in August, with one week remaining.

These funds are from a combination of sources, including federal funds and Massachusetts’ well-established homelessness prevention program known as RAFT.

In FY21, which ended on June 30, Metro Housing assisted 10,251 households with more than $63 million in federal and state funds. Metro Housing will be releasing its annual RAFT/rental assistance report in the coming weeks with more information about the families and individuals helped during the last fiscal year.

Christine Pearson Named Human Resources Officer

After serving as Interim HR Director for the past four months, Christine Pearson has been name Chief Human Resources Officer at Metro Housing.

For three years prior to joining Metro Housing, Christine worked as Senior HR Consultant for a consulting firm, working with a variety of non-profit and for profit companies.

Prior to that, Christine worked for 18 years as VP of HR at Advocates, Inc. where she grew an HR Department in the areas of recruitment, benefits, training and HRIS.

Among the many new projects that Christine is focused on are rolling out trainings for staff and managers and creating a new hire orientation program.

Metro Housing In the News

When the federal eviction moratorium expired at the end of July, there was great concern that hundreds of people would suddenly be evicted. Though the moratorium was eventually extended for two months, local media outlets were busy providing coverage and Metro Housing was sought out as a local thought leader on the issue.

Here are links to recent media coverage featuring Metro Housing:

Boston 25 News: Surge of MA renters seeking assistance as federal moratorium set to expire

Boston Globe: What is ‘affordable housing’ for some is out of reach for others

WHDH Channel 7: Rental assistance still available for Mass. residents as officials push for reinstatement of eviction moratorium

WBZ-TV: Eviction Moratorium Ends: Where Renters Can Find Help In Massachusetts

Newton TAB: With eviction moratorium’s end, Newton volunteers help vulnerable apply for rental aid

BIDMC Offers Opportunity to Make a Difference in Patient Care

The Patient and Family Engagement program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is seeking patients and family members to join their team of volunteer advisors. Advisors help improve the care experience at BIDMC in a variety of ways, including:

Sharing patient experience stories with staff members, hospital leaders, and doctors.
Helping to create or review patient information and communications.
“E-Advising” (providing feedback by email/online on various topics).
Providing input on facility design and accessibility.
Participating in ongoing department committees, focus groups, staff trainings, and the Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC).

BIDMC recognizes that input from patients and their families is essential to truly providing patient-centered care. The Patient and Family Engagement program is specifically looking to build a team of advisors who reflect the diversity of the community served at BIDMC across race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, education level, health condition, family structure, disability, age, language, LGBTQ+, veteran status and other identities and experiences.

Please consider applying to be an advisor if:

You or your family member received care at BIDMC-Boston within the last 2 years (can be an inpatient, outpatient, or emergency department experience).
You are able to commit 1-4 hours of your time per month for at least 1 year.
You are interested in participating in projects, committees, advisory councils, or design teams (no experience necessary).
You have an interest in making meaningful, positive improvements for all patients and their families.

For more information or to apply, please contact the Program Leader:

617-667-4608, PFE@bidmc.harvard.edu or visit the website: bidmc.org/PFAC

Assistance to Landlords Available through Volunteer Lawyers Project

Are you a landlord of a 2-3 family home struggling with your mortgage payments or have tenants who are experiencing trouble paying rent? If you are, the Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) may be able to help.

VLP's Landlord Advocacy program provides free or low-cost legal assistance to landlords. If you qualify, you may be able to access programs like Lawyer for the Day, and they can even provide full or limited representation before you start any court proceedings or if you already have a court case pending. VLP’s team can also help you to apply for financial assistance to cover your tenant’s rent and or your mortgage payments. Plus, VLP offers all landlords free educational materials and resources, regardless of their income. Call 857-320-6452 or email CELHP Landlord Project Coordinator Yesenia Carrion at ycarrion@vlpnet.org to find out more.

VLP joined the statewide Eviction Diversion Initiative called the COVID Eviction Legal Help Project (CELHP) in the Fall of 2020. Within a few months, the organization implemented a statewide Landlord Advocacy program, the first of its kind. Delivering quality legal assistance and resources to the vulnerable landlord population, it is backed by VLP's staff and a network of experienced landlord-tenant attorneys, paralegals, and law students, with mentorship reinforcements from retired judges, senior attorneys, and its partners in law firms as well as through an association with the University of Massachusetts School of Law Justice Bridge Program and the Hampden County Legal Clinic.