Massachusetts General Hospital on Monday announced $18 million in funding to support local organizations in their efforts to increase affordable housing in Greater Boston.
One of the nearly two dozen organizations that received funds was Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a group that helps young adults experiencing homelessness. President and CEO Elisabeth Jackson told GBH News that they received $700,000, which they used to renovate a triple-decker in Brighton.
“The renovations transformed that house into a home and responded to the needs of our young people,” said Jackson, adding that nine young adults are ready to move into the building and will spend just $250 a month on rent. “We can truly provide the next step for them. For youth looking for a place to learn from while they build up their credit and savings, finish school, and start their careers.”
At a press conference announcing the funding on Monday, officials acknowledged the pressure tenants face in the region, where affordable housing is in short supply. They also emphasized the importance of addressing housing as a public health issue.
“The place that we call home is more than just a roof over our heads,” said Dr. Robbie Goldstein, the commissioner of the state Department of Public Health. “It’s the foundation of our physical and our mental well-being.”
Goldstein said public health data show inadequate housing can expose people to hazards like mold and lead, leading to health conditions.
“Substandard housing too often leads to respiratory problems, developmental delays in children and other chronic health conditions,” Goldstein said. “And overcrowded housing can contribute to the spread of infectious diseases, which we all saw so clearly during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In addition, stressors like potential evictions or foreclosures can exacerbate existing health conditions or lead to new ones. And for children, housing instability can have a major impact on their social development and mental health.
Sheila Dillon, Boston’s chief of housing and the director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing, said the funds the city received will help them partner with community organizations looking to buy property to turn into affordable housing.
“And interest rates are really, really high. So what’s happened is it’s really hard for our good nonprofits and some of the non-for-profits to purchase,” said Dillon. “So recently we said, ‘You know, we’ve got to figure out a fund. We’ve got to figure out a way that we can provide acquisition funding at much lower interest rates, allowing our wonderful partners to acquire these buildings.’”
Other organizations that received funds from Massachusetts General Hospital include City Life / Vida Urbana, the Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts Inc., the Chinese Progressive Association and Greater Boston Legal Services.
The $18 million is part of a larger pool of money that MGH is state-mandated to contribute in community support, tied to an almost $2 billion expansion of its downtown Boston campus. Another $44 million will be allocated over the next eight years toward other community health priorities.
