Boston – On June 9, the Board of Directors of Hearth, Inc. joined Undersecretary Tina Brooks from the Evelyn Friedman and other officials to celebrate the commencement of construction of Hearth at Olmsted Green, which will provide permanent, supportive housing for 59 of Boston’s frailest, neediest elders.
One hundred percent of the units will be available to extremely low income seniors who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Resident services, including nutritious meals, recreation, counseling and case management services will be provided as required to enable each resident to maintain a healthy, independent lifestyle.
This will give vulnerable elders the opportunity to live with considerable independence, and at a lower cost to the community than if they lived on the streets or in shelters, or moved prematurely into skilled nursing environments.
“DHCD is proud to support housing development projects that provide affordable, supportive housing for seniors ” said Undersecretary Tina Brooks. “It’s important that we continue to invest in these projects that create important jobs for local workers as well as provide supportive housing for vulnerable residents.”
“For 20 years, Hearth has been my partner, and the region’s leader in the fight to eliminate elder homelessness ” said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. “Hearth at Olmsted Green will stand as the best example of affordable, supportive, and permanent housing for formerly homeless and at-risk seniors.”
Providing housing with the necessary supportive services that assist residents to age with dignity, regardless of their special medical, mental health or social needs, is the heart of Hearth’s mission. With these new units, Hearth will operate 196 units of supportive housing in eight locations throughout the Boston area. In addition, each year Heart ’s Outreach Program, which was has been recognized as a 2009 Social Innovator by the Cambridge based Social Innovation Forum, works with over 300 elders in need of housing.
“We are grateful for the support of the City of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, our investors and our philanthropic funders, for making this possible,” said Mark Hinderlie, President and CEO of Hearth, Hearth at Olmsted Green is situated within the larger Olmsted Green project, developed by New Boston and Lena Park Community Development Corporation, and located on the former Boston State Hospital site adjacent to Franklin Park. For three decades the development of this site has been overseen by a community advisory council of concerned community residents. Olmsted Green will be a mixed income community complete with housing, recreational facilities, services, and economic development opportunities.