(L-R): Matthew Osborne, Executive Vice President, Eastern Bank; Robert Corley, CEO, NeighborWorks Housing Solutions; Michael McGowan, Board Chairman, NeighborWorks Housing Solutions; Nancy Stager, President and CEO of the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation; Thomas King, Board Member, NeighborWorks Housing Solutions and Senior Vice President at Eastern Bank.
NeighborWorks® Housing Solutions (NHS), the leading housing service provider in southeastern Massachusetts, was recently awarded a $100,000 grant from the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation in support of the merger between NeighborWorks of Southern Massachusetts and Housing Solutions, which took place just over one year ago (July 1, 2019) and resulted in the newly formed NeighborWorks Housing Solutions. The grant has been directed toward capacity-building, to enable the newly formed organization to sustain and increase its impact.
The merger has brought together two highly successful organizations to help address the housing needs of southern Massachusetts. The grant from the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation supports the successful implementation of the merger, and through this investment will enable the newly formed organization to expand its reach and have a deeper impact on the cities and towns in southern Massachusetts where it focuses. Specifically, Eastern’s grant will allow NHS to continue to invest in the region’s gateway communities of Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, Quincy, Taunton, and Attleboro, and create housing opportunities throughout the surrounding communities.
As NeighborWorks Housing Solutions just passes the one-year anniversary of the merger, the organization is stronger and more viable than ever, in concert with the organization’s goal of providing comprehensive housing resources, from rental assistance and housing resources to first-time home buyer education, down payment assistance lending, financial budgeting and foreclosure mitigation, as well as the development of new affordable housing units.
“We are grateful to the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation for investing in NeighborWorks® Housing Solutions, and the community as a whole,” said Robert Corley, executive director of NeighborWorks® Housing Solutions. “Their tremendous support of our merger has allowed our programs to expand across the region, while fulfilling our mission of developing housing and providing resources and education in collaboration with partners in the public and private sectors and delivering the best housing assistance program in the state.”
“The merger represents a big undertaking, and this year has definitely brought its challenges, but with support from organizations like the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, everything is going in the right direction,” he added.
“As a company with a deep and demonstrated commitment to access and opportunities, we are active advocates of initiatives that advance greater diversity and economic inclusion,” said Nancy Huntington Stager, president and CEO of the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation. “Housing is an important element of equity and inclusion for any community. It’s an imperative for communities to thrive, and we thank NeighborWorks Housing Solutions for all that it does in providing economic well-being and mobility for people in southern Massachusetts and Gateway Cities.”
About NeighborWorks® Housing Solutions
NeighborWorks® Housing Solutions is the leading housing service provider in southern Massachusetts. NHS has more than 70 years of combined experience in the community development field and provides services to more than 11,000 households in more than 75 cities and towns across the region. In addition to building and managing 786 units of housing for veterans, homeless families and others in need, the agency offers a wide range of housing services, including foreclosure prevention counseling, home rehabilitation loans and grants, financial coaching and first-time homebuyer workshops. For more information, contact Serenity Belo, Resource Development Director, at 617-801-5217 or sbelo@nhsmass.org, or visit: www.nhsmass.org
