April 2021

ONE|NB reached several milestones this month

We’re proud to share that we've reached three significant milestones this month that help us advance our mission, which is to develop affordable housing and engage neighbors across Greater Providence to cultivate healthy, vibrant, and safe communities. Milestone #1: We helped vaccinate 100 people from some of Rhode Island’s hardest-hit communities at our clinic on April 10. Our team worked to pre-register people and then welcomed them to the Madeline Rogers-Selim Recreation Center in Providence's Smith Hill neighborhood. We co-sponsored the clinic with great partners: Providence Emergency Management Agency, Providence Community Health Centers, Providence Parks & Recreation Department, Councilwoman Kat Kerwin, and Smith Hill Advocacy and Resource Partnerships (SHARP).

Milestone #2: We purchased and will be renovating 36 apartments in two identical buildings in East Providence, known as Sutton Place. We're grateful to RIHousing for their financial assistance with this purchase, which means the apartments will become deed-restricted affordable housing. This renovation will make East Providence only the seventh of Rhode Island’s 39 communities to meet the State goal that 10% of each municipality's housing stock qualifies as low- and moderate-income housing. This project, our first outside of Providence, begins to fulfill our strategic direction to expand our real estate portfolio beyond the capital city. Strategically, this project preserves what's known in the housing world as Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (or NOAH) — the concept is to purchase modest homes that currently meet the needs of the affordable housing market but are at risk for escalating rents as the housing crunch mounts.  Milestone #3: We welcomed our first homebuyer for Manton Avenue Townhomes this month. The live/work units include commercial/flex space on the ground floor, a two-bedroom unit to be occupied by the owner of the townhome and a separate, one-bedroom rental apartment. These townhomes are intended for buyers earning between 80% and 120% of area median income. We’ll share more details about the new business that will go into the space when we can.

Our work convening Central Providence Opportunities continues, and we're pleased to share more details on our website about our Resident Advisory Council.

Meeting people where they are

We know there’s more work to do to bring resources to residents in our communities, and that’s why we’re so excited to have our mobile health trailer. We’re especially grateful to Bank of America for their sponsorship of this trailer, which allows our Community Health Workers to go directly into our neighborhoods. During the pandemic, the ZIP codes we cover, 02908 and 02909, have consistently ranked among the hardest-hit communities in Rhode Island. The trailer is helping us register residents for vaccines and otherwise share vital information.

Recent news coverage about our work

The Public’s Radio, by Lynn Arditi: "Help On Wheels: A Mobile Trailer Delivers COVID-19 Vaccine Registration To Providence’s Hard-Hit Neighborhoods" The Providence Journal, Opinion piece by ONE|NB President and Executive Director Jennifer Hawkins and Domenic Delmonico, executive director of Rhode Island Medicaid at Tufts Health Plan: "Stable, affordable homes keep families healthy" Institute for Local Self-Reliance/Community Networks, by Maren Machles: "Providence, Rhode Island Neighborhood-Wide Free Wi-Fi Network Gearing Up For Expansion" Providence Business News, by Mary MacDonald: "East Providence to meet state affordable-housing goal with Sutton Place project"

ONE|NB welcomes new staff

Kate Bramson Director of Policy, Fundraising, and Communications

 Ana Meerbott Executive Assistant

THANK YOU for supporting ONE Neighborhood Builders through 401Gives

This year's 401Gives raised $2.3 million, surpassing last year's fundraising total by $1 million. We are grateful to have joined 422 organizations helped on this historic day that drew the attention of 12,087 donors. We are especially grateful to our 31 donors. If you missed 401Gives, you may still donate here.

Learn More

ONE Neighborhood Builders | 401.351.8719 | [email protected] | onenb.org

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