Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc.

Introduction

Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. (AH&SCI) was incorporated as a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization in 2001. AH&SCI was established to enhance and advance Peabody Properties, Inc.'s (PPI) leadership role in the preservation and creation of housing stock for low-income Massachusetts residents, a resource that continues to be met with higher and higher demands, as well as the prevention of homelessness through Peabody Resident Services, Inc.'s (PRSI) development of results-oriented resident services and on-site quality-of-life programs that are highly successful in preserving tenancies; given that the company manages over 10,000 affordable units with approximately 25-30% of all residents served by PRSI, this percentage represents at least 2,500 households assisted in maintaining their tenancy, thus avoiding homelessness.

In pursuit of these purposes, AH&SCI, Inc. is driven by the following two-part mission:

· To develop, through partnerships with community-based organizations and through the pursuit of grants and other funding sources, wellness, educational, social, and supportive programs and services to enhance the quality-of-life of residents living in PPI-managed developments.

· To preserve affordable housing, through the development of new and the rehabilitation of existing units for low- and very low-income families, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

Preservation and Creation of Affordable Units

In this short history, our major activities have focused on preserving housing units for very low- and low-income residents. Through the purchase and rehabilitation of the sites listed below, we have kept housing units affordable to this population, including a transitional home with services for people with HIV/AIDS, and an assisted living facility (nearly 70% of its units are affordable) at a time when various socioeconomic factors continue to threaten the supply of this critical housing stock in Massachusetts.

	Fieldstone Apartments, Dorchester: 84 units
	Seton Manor, Brighton: 19 units
	Bixby/Brockton LLC, Brockton: 106 units
	The Majestic, Lowell: 34 units
	Providence Housing Assisted Living, Brighton: 69 units
	Melville Towers, New Bedford: 320 units

Resident Program Development

Pursuant to the second component of our mission statement, AH&SCI, Inc. was incorporated to complement the PPI/PRSI initiative and increase funding opportunities to develop and sustain on-site resident programs. In building the funding base for this resident program support conduit, we have concentrated our efforts on submitting grant proposals and creating partnerships with community-based service providers.

Conclusion

At this point in our organization’s growth, we are in a solid position to continue identifying and preserving affordable housing in Massachusetts, and to develop and implement quality-of-life-enhancing programs for the low- and very low-income residents these developments house. The seamless linkage between owning, managing, and coordinating supportive services, in conjunction with partnerships with community-based organizations and resident associations, contributes to the success of our model.

AHSCI Officers:

Doreen Bushashia, President
Catherine A. Hult, Treasurer
Joanne D.C. Foley, Esq., Secretary

Contact Information:

For more information about AHSCI, please contact Doreen Bushashia at