ALLSTON BRIGHTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. ENCOURAGED A HEALTHY, AFFORDABLE, EQUITABLE AND ENGAGED ALLSTON BRIGHTON BY STRENGTHENING OUR WORK WITH LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME RESIDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESIDE IN AND BECOME LEADERS IN THE ALLSTON BRIGHTON COMMUNITY. COORDINATED OUTREACH EFFORTS OF COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS AND STAFF TO INFORM RESIDENTS ABOUT AND INVOLVE THEM IN THE MULTI-MONTH ALLSTON BRIGHTON NEEDS ASSESSMENT FUNDED BY THE BOSTON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (BPDA). THE AMBASSADORS AND STAFF ATTENDED 53 EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THEY ENGAGED WITH RESIDENTS, ENCOURAGING THEM TO EXPRESS THEIR DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES. WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH RESIDENTS OF FANEUIL GARDENS AND COMMONWEALTH HOUSING, THE TWO BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY (BHA) DEVELOPMENTS IN BRIGHTON, TO ENSURE THEY WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS. PROVIDED A WORKSHOP FOR RESIDENTS OF FANEUIL GARDENS REGARDING THE ARTICLE 80 DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS TO PREPARE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE IMPACT ADVISORY GROUP (IAG) BEING SET UP FOR THE REDESIGN OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT. DEVELOPED AND FACILITATED AN AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AT COMMONWEALTH APARTMENTS AND FANEUIL GARDENS THAT FOCUSED ON INCREASING THEIR SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. YOUTH PROGRAM COORDINATORS AND VOLUNTEERS OFFERED HOMEWORK HELP AND ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, INCLUDING VISITS TO THE LOCAL LIBRARY AND WEEKLY PROGRAMMING BY THE HARVARD ED PORTAL. THE SUMMER PROGRAM INCLUDED FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, FIELD TRIPS TO THE LOCAL PARKS AND THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AS WELL AS ARTS AND CRAFTS PROJECTS, STEM EXPERIMENTS AND HEALTH/MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES. PROGRAMMING WAS FUNDED BY A STATE GRANT. THROUGH THE ALL BRIGHT HOMES PROGRAM, WHICH SEEKS TO INCREASE OWNER OCCUPANCY IN NORTH ALLSTON/NORTH BRIGHTON, SOLD A HOME WITH DEED RESTRICTIONS TO AN OWNER-OCCUPANT. CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE IN AND SERVE AS FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE ALLSTON BRIGHTON HEALTH COLLABORATIVE, FORMED TO WORK ACROSS SECTORS TO IMPROVE OVERALL COMMUNITY HEALTH, AND TO SERVE AS FISCAL SPONSOR FOR ALLSTON BRIGHTON PAUSES (PREVENTION, AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING SUBSTANCES THROUGH EDUCATION AND SUPPORT).

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT AND RESIDENT SERVICES.BEGAN CONSTRUCTION IN AUGUST ON THE DEEP ENERGY RETROFIT OF A 33-UNIT PROPERTY, SWITCHING TO ALL ELECTRIC HEATING, COOLING AND DOMESTIC HOT WATER. THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY 4% LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS (LIHTC), $4 MILLION IN STATE AND CITY FUNDS, AND THE PRELIMINARY APPROVAL IN 2023 OF $529,550 IN UTILITY INCENTIVES FROM THE LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE NETWORK (LEAN). A 2023 GRANT OF $110,000 FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WILL SUPPORT ON-SITE RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE FORM OF ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS. THIS REHAB IS PROJECTED TO REDUCE ENERGY USAGE BY 54%. REHABILITATED A 15-UNIT LICENSED LODGING HOUSE TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS IN THE ADVANCED STAGES OF ADDICTION RECOVERY. THIS REHAB WAS FUNDED BY $4.6 MILLION IN PUBLIC FUNDS, PLUS ADDITIONAL GRANTS OF $175,000 AWARDED IN 2023.SECURED $5 MILLION THROUGH 2023 TO CONDUCT A DEEP ENERGY RETROFIT AT A 20-UNIT PROPERTY. THE RETROFIT IS PROJECTED TO REDUCE ENERGY USAGE BY 69% THROUGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ELECTRIFICATION, COMPLETELY ELIMINATING FOSSIL FUELS. INSTALLED PHOTOVOLTAIC ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS AT A PROPERTY ON COMMONWEALTH AVENUE THAT IS PROJECTED TO SAVE $500,000 IN UTILITY COSTS OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS. CLOSED ON THE ACQUISITION OF A 27,000 SQUARE FOOT PARCEL OF LAND IN NORTH ALLSTON WITH $4.8 MILLION IN FUNDING MADE AVAILABLE BY THE CITY OF BOSTON WITH FUNDS FROM HARVARD UNIVERSITY. THE SITE IS BEING DESIGNED TO BE DEVELOPED INTO AFFORDABLE RENTAL APARTMENTS FOR OLDER ADULTS.PROVIDED SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS IN 506 UNITS OF RENTAL HOUSING, WITH A MIXTURE OF VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING. MET WITH RESIDENTS FOR 490 UNIQUE MEETINGS ON A RANGE OF TOPICS, INCLUDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. ASSISTED 47 RESIDENTS WITH RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS, RECEIVING APPROVAL FOR $179,980. PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER TO 506 HOUSEHOLDS TO KEEP THEM INFORMED ABOUT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT AVAILABLE THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. HELD BI-MONTHLY MOBILE FOOD PANTRIES AT 2 PROPERTY SITES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ABCD, PROVIDING 306 BAGS OF FOOD. PROVIDED DAILY, FREE SUMMER MEALS TO 12 YOUTH THROUGH THE SUMMER EATS PROGRAM. CONTINUED AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR 15 YOUTH WITH 15 TUTORS FROM BOSTON COLLEGE. DISTRIBUTED BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO 115 YOUTH TO SUPPORT THEM AS THEY RETURNED TO SCHOOL IN THE FALL. HELD A COMMUNITY VACCINATION CLINIC ATTENDED BY 7 RESIDENTS AND PROVIDED HUNDREDS OF 18 COVID TEST KITS AND MASKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. COLLABORATED WITH THE ELIOT SCHOOL OF FINE AND APPLIED ARTS TO RUN 2 IN-PERSON ADULT ART CLASSES FOR 15 STUDENTS, IN EMBROIDERY AND CERAMICS, WITH THE FOCUS ON ART CREATION AS A WAY TO EXPRESS EMOTIONS. OFFERED 8 MOBILITY CLASSES TAUGHT BY A CERTIFIED ZUMBA INSTRUCTOR. DURING THE HOLIDAYS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TOYS FOR TOTS, DISTRIBUTED TOYS FOR 129 CHILDREN AND ALSO DISTRIBUTED GIFT CERTIFICATES TO YOUTH. IN TOTAL, 642 RESIDENTS ATTENDED OUR RESIDENT PROGRAMS.