Brookline CDC Summer Update

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As summer arrives in Brookline, I wanted to share a few updates from Brookline Community Development Corporation and thank you for your continued support of our work.

The past several months have been busy ones. Every day, we see firsthand that affordable housing remains one of the defining challenges facing our community. Whether it's helping a resident stay housed during a financial crisis, preserving affordable homes for future generations, or creating pathways to homeownership, Brookline CDC is working to ensure that Brookline remains a place where people of all incomes can live, work, and thrive.

A Major Climate Milestone at Boylston Street

This spring, we reached an exciting milestone at our six-unit affordable housing property on Boylston Street.

We successfully completed the building's transition from fossil fuels to 100% electric heating and cooling systems to complement our sustainability goals. Every apartment now has modern, high-efficiency heat pump systems that provide both heat and air conditioning, improving indoor air quality and comfort for residents while dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

This project demonstrates something we believe deeply: lower-income residents deserve to benefit from the clean energy transition. By preserving affordability while investing in healthier, more sustainable housing, we're helping advance Brookline's climate goals and protecting residents from rising energy costs.

Preserving Affordable Housing at 1017 Beacon Street

We're also preparing to begin the next phase of improvements at our 16-unit single-room occupancy property at 1017 Beacon Street. The building is managed by Pine Street Inn.

This historic 19th-century building provides affordable housing to low-income residents, many of whom live with disabilities. Our upcoming renovation will preserve the building's historic character while making major investments in energy efficiency, decarbonization, accessibility, and long-term affordability.

Projects like these are essential. Preserving affordable housing is often the most cost-effective way to protect the homes we already have while ensuring they remain safe, healthy, and sustainable for decades to come.

Helping Neighbors Stay Housed

Over the past year, Brookline CDC has assisted more than 70 households through our Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

For many families, a temporary financial setback, a medical emergency, job loss, or unexpected expense can quickly become a housing crisis. Emergency assistance provides a bridge that helps residents remain stably housed and connected to their community.

One recent recipient was a survivor of domestic violence who had been living in her car. Through partnerships with local service providers, she was able to secure housing, access supportive services, and begin rebuilding her life. Stories like hers remind us why this work matters.

Supporting First-Time Homebuyers

This year, we also helped two income-qualified families become homeowners through our First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program.

For teachers, healthcare workers, municipal employees, nonprofit staff, and many other working families, purchasing a home in Brookline can feel increasingly out of reach. Our grants help close that gap and allow families to put down roots in the community they love.

A New Look for Brookline CDC

You may have noticed something new: Brookline CDC has updated our logo!

The new design places our “B” inside the shape of a house, reflecting our core mission of creating, preserving, and supporting affordable housing. The green leaf indicates that, when the Beacon Street energy retrofit is complete, we will be among the first CDCs in the country to manage 100% green housing stock. And you'll also notice that the letter B itself is connected throughout the design. That connection is intentional.

Here in Brookline, we know that everything is connected to housing.

Housing affects economic opportunity, climate resilience, transportation, public health, aging in place, and the diversity that makes our community strong. Affordable housing is not a separate issue, it is connected to nearly everything we care about.

Our new logo reflects that belief and the work we do every day. A huge thank you to our friends at Rockland Trust Bank for donating the graphic design services that produced this new logo.

Join Us in June

We hope you'll join us at upcoming community events, including:

Brookline Juneteenth (Friday, June 19, 2–4 p.m.)
Brookline PRIDE (Saturday, June 27, 12–3 p.m.)

Thank You

None of this work happens without the support of our neighbors, donors, volunteers, partners, and residents.

As we look ahead to the second half of 2026, we remain focused on preserving affordable housing, helping residents remain stably housed, supporting first-time homebuyers, and building a more sustainable future for Brookline.

If you would like to support this work—with a gift of $100, $1,000, or more—we welcome your contribution. Every gift helps us strengthen housing stability and opportunity for Brookline residents.

And right now, you can double your impact on this work: Donations of $1,000 or more may be eligible for the Massachusetts Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) Program, which can provide a state tax credit of up to 50% of the contribution, subject to program requirements and availability.

Your support helps preserve affordable housing, prevent displacement, and expand opportunity in Brookline.

Thank you for being part of all that we do.

Have a wonderful start to your summer!

David Cavell

Executive Director

Brookline Community Development Corporation

If you are interested in supporting Brookline CDC. please go to our donor page or scan the QR code below using your smartphone camera:

Make Your Contribution Today!

* Brookline CDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We respect your privacy. Personal information will not be sold to external parties.

Brookline Community Development Corporation (BCDC)

210 Harvard Street

Brookline, MA 02446

info@brooklinecdc.com

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