Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc.

Introduction

Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. (AH&SC, Inc.) was incorporated as a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization in 2001. AH&SC, Inc. was established to enhance and advance PPI’s 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 the 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&SC, 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 younger persons with disabilities.

Preservation and Creation of Affordable Units

In this short 6- year history, our major activities have focused on preserving housing units for very low- and low-income residents. Through the purchase and rehabilitation of the 6 sites listed below, we have kept 632 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

Resident Program Development

Pursuant to the second component of our mission statement, AH&SC, Inc. was incorporated to complement the PPI resident services program 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 researching a vast body of literature on appropriate funding opportunities, and submitting grant proposals to support existing resident community initiatives, developed by PPI/PRSI in partnership with tenant organizations, property owners, and various partners in communities in which our sites are located, as well as new programs advocated by our residents.

In December 2006, AHSC acquired Melville Towers a 320 unit Section 8 assisted elderly community located in New Bedford, MA. AHSC's acquisition of this development preserved the units as long term afffordable housing and provided the resources to fund a $10 M renovation of the building that is scheduled to complete in the fall of 2007.

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 begin developing and implementing 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 local staff, community-based organizations, and resident associations, will increase the likelihood of our success as these factors impact on each others’ success.

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

For information regarding AHSCI grant applications, please contact Jillian Griffin, Grants & Projects Manager, at