Housing Corp of Arlington

Save the Date: Walk 2012!

2012-01-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

HCA’s Eleventh Annual Walk for Affordable Housing

Sunday, April 29, 2012

1:00-3:00 PM

Jason Russell House

(corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Jason Street)

Stay tuned for more info!

HCA Welcomes Mary-Anne Morrison to our Board of Directors!

2012-01-10T10:32:00.000-08:00

HCA is thrilled to welcome Mary-Anne Morrison to our Board of Directors!

Mary-Anne retired from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) in April 2011, having served as its Director of Rental Assistance with oversight responsibility for its 27,000-unit federal and state rental assistance portfolio, the Commonwealth’s nine Housing Consumer Education Centers and the Rental Assistance for Families in Transition Program. She began her affordable housing career working on public housing issues in 1971. In 1975, she was asked to assist in the start-up of DHCD’s first allocation of 1,056 Section 8 units. For the following 36 years until her retirement, Mary-Anne shepherded DHCD’s Section 8 program’s growth to 19,500 units, making it the country’s seventh largest Housing Choice Voucher Program and one of its most diversified, with numerous set-asides for special populations, a very large project-based voucher component, and the sixth largest Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) voucher program in the nation.

Currently, Mary-Anne is in the process of founding her own business, Mac3advocates, which will offer family field trip fellowships to parents participating on the Section 8 FSS program and their children. She and her husband, John, and their two children, Ben and Liz, moved to Arlington in 1987.

HCA's New 25th Anniversary Video!

2011-12-19T12:43:00.000-08:00

Check out HCA's 25th Anniversary Video!

25th Anniverary Celebration Dinner: A Great Success!

2011-11-23T08:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the generous support of friends like our lead sponsor, Cambridge Savings Bank, our 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner was a tremendous success! Master of Ceremonies Ray Magliozzi led us through an amazing night filled with 350 of HCA’s closest friends, laughter, tears, great food, memories of missed friends and the celebration of HCA’s 25 years of accomplishments.

Governor Patrick, who was not able to attend the dinner due to an out of state obligation, saluted HCA in a sincere video, “you are working everyday to get families back on their feet and find or keep a place to call home…your work is a testament to our best values.” He also warmly remarked, “Brian [Greeley] dedicated his life to public service…his spirit is an inspiration to us all.”

Click here to view photos from the event—and don’t forget to “Like” HCA on Facebook!

HCA’s Capitol Square Project Awarded State Funding!

2011-10-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to report that on Monday, October 17th, HCA’s Capitol Square Apartments project was awarded critical funding from the Massachusetts Dept. of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)!

The awarded funds, including both low-income housing tax credits and DHCD housing subsidies, complete the funding needed to proceed with Capitol Square Apartments, HCA’s latest affordable housing project that will restore three turn-of-the-century apartment buildings in East Arlington and provide thirty-two (32) units of affordable rental housing. Please take a look at the full press release from the Governor’s office.

Without the tremendous support from the HCA community, projects like Capitol Square Apartments would not be possible. Thank you!

Three Reasons to RSVP TODAY!

2011-09-22T06:07:00.000-07:00

Three NEW reasons to RSVP today for HCA's 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner:

1) Governor Deval Patrick is our Special Guest Speaker;

2) We will be enjoying an amazing dinner from one of Arlington's top restaurants: Scutra;

3) And you can now RSVP Online! Just go to: www.housingcorparlington.org/dinner

See you on November 3!

A Special Thank You to Calvary Church!

2011-09-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

Donating their time, money and spirit, Calvary Church’s ongoing support of the Housing Corporation has always been exceptional, but their latest investment in HCA to help make affordable housing a priority in our community is unparalleled. Calvary members recently decided to provide HCA with a $100,000 loan for our Capitol Square Apartments project and to also contribute $20,000 to HCA’s Homelessness Prevention Fund to help Arlington’s most vulnerable residents.

A very special thank you to Calvary Church for their commitment to making Arlington an affordable community for all!

Capitol Square Apartments in Arlington Patch

2011-08-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

Great piece about HCA's Capitol Square Apartments in Patch!:
Housing Corp. Set to Convert 32 Apartment Units into Affordable Housing

Welcome, Kelly!

2011-08-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

Housing Corporation of Arlington is delighted to announce the hiring of Kelly Hunt as our first Director of Real Estate Development. This latest milestone will allow HCA to greatly expand its efforts to serve lower-income populations in Arlington and surrounding communities.

Kelly is a native Texan who ventured to Massachusetts in search of a Masters degree and found she likes the state so much she decided to stay. Kelly has a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and a Masters of Public Administration degree from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Kelly has very quickly become invested in HCA and its mission. She is a strong addition to our committed team, and she will help HCA meet its goals of maintaining the economic and social diversity that makes us proud to be a part of the Arlington community.

Update: 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner

2011-07-19T14:18:00.000-07:00

Our Honorary Committee had our first meeting on June 28th. Great energy in the room, and everyone is very excited for our upcoming 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner! Ray Magliozzi from Car Talk will be our Master of Ceremonies, and Cambridge Savings Bank has already committed to being a Community Sponsor for the event!

We’re thrilled to be working with such a wonderful, engaged Honorary Committee: Janice Anzalone Bakey, Robert Bowes, Representative William Brownsberger, Mary & John Deyst, Senator Kenneth Donnelly, Richard Duffy, Daniel Dunn, Rev. Christine Elliott, Cindy Friedman, Representative Sean Garballey, Carol Greeley, Kevin Greeley, Representative Jay Kaufman, Annie LaCourt, Eugene Lucarelli, Charlie Lyons, Monique & Ray Magliozzi, Alan McClennen, Robert Mirak, Mary Winstanley O’Connor, Clarissa Rowe, Bill & Elaine Shea, Joseph Tulimieri, Mark Wanamaker and Robert M. Wilson.

For more information about how to sponsor HCA’s 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner, please contact Joanna Ain at 781-316-3606 or jain@housingcorparlington.org.

25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner

2011-06-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

Please join HCA friends and supporters at our

25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner

Honoring Beloved Arlington Leader, Brian Greeley

Thursday, November 3, 2011

6:00 PM

Arlington Town Hall

A Day at the State House

2011-04-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

On March 31, HCA joined over 300 community development practioners at the State House for MACDC's 2011 Lobby Day.

While meeting with state legislators, HCA staff and board members spoke about the importance of community development work in towns like Arlington--places where low-income households need affordable housing and homelessness prevention programs to live stably in thier homes.

Thank you for WALKING!

2011-04-13T09:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks to 200 participants and fabulous weather, HCA had a great day last Sunday walking for affordable housing. We raised $43,336 and still counting! Thank you HCA supporters!

Join us this SUNDAY!

2011-04-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, April 10, HCA will be hosting our 10th Annual Walk for Affordable Housing! Through our generous friends and supporters, we have already raised $25,000!

For more information about Sunday's Walk, please go to HCA's website.

On Arlington Patch...

2011-03-11T08:52:00.001-08:00

HCA works hard to be a great non-profit making a difference in Arlington--thanks, Patch readers!

HCA Launches Affiliate Nonprofit to Aid Neighboring Communities

2011-03-07T11:06:00.000-08:00

For 25 years, the Housing Corporation of Arlington has increased and maintained affordable housing in Arlington—and in 2010, HCA launched its most ambitious affordable housing project to date: Capitol Square Apartments, which will renovate three turn-of-the-century apartment buildings in East Arlington into 32 safe and affordable units for low-income residents. As HCA looks to the next 25 years, the organization is taking steps to make sure it remains strong and sustainable so that it can continue improving the lives of low-income residents.

Over the past several years, surrounding communities have approached HCA to help them develop affordable housing in their neighborhoods. The lack of affordable housing is a regional issue, and these requests are a testament to HCA’s reputation for developing and maintaining high-quality units for families and individuals. After years of careful thought and discussion, HCA has formed a new, related non-profit to expand our impact in improving communities in the Arlington area. Academy Development Partners, an affiliate of HCA, will partner with other local community organizations and municipalities to develop affordable housing in surrounding communities.

Working outside of Arlington will allow HCA to share expertise, find regional affordable housing solutions, and bring in new revenue to increase our staff and the assistance we provide in Arlington. HCA will help develop properties, build local capacity, and expand affordable housing opportunities for low-income families and individuals. HCA’s work in other communities will generate income to cover expenses, and bring even more resources into Arlington.

“For a small, community-based non-profit like ours, 25 years is quite an achievement,” says David J. Levy, Executive Director, “Academy Development Partners will allow us to stay relevant and effective in a regional capacity while continuing to focus our efforts in Arlington with projects such as Capitol Square. It is a win-win.”

Ready to Celebrate?

2011-02-07T08:26:00.001-08:00

Come celebrate HCA's 25th Anniversay at our

10th Annual Walk for Affordable Housing!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Jason Russell House

1-3 PM

Housing Corp Celebrates New Project and Arlington Champion

2010-11-17T08:20:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, November 4, at the Housing Corporation of Arlington’s Annual Meeting, over eighty HCA supporters came out to local East Arlington eatery, Flora Restaurant, for a scrumptious breakfast to celebrate the beginning of a new project and to salute a longtime Arlington ally.

To start off the festivities, HCA announced a major $9 million project to benefit low-income residents. Housing Corporation of Arlington (HCA) has purchased three early 20th century apartment buildings on adjacent parcels just a few blocks from where the meeting was taking place in East Arlington. As part of the newly named initiative, Capitol Square Apartments will include significant renovations to all 32 existing apartments, common areas and exteriors, and units will be made affordable in perpetuity serving low-income households.

The Capitol Square Apartments Project, located at 252, 258-260 Massachusetts Avenue, will restore these historic structures through a certified preservation project utilizing both federal and state historic tax credits. According to Richard Duffy, Co-Chair of the Arlington Historical Commission, Edward and Mary Houlian built the three apartment buildings on a portion of the former John P. Squire estate, which had been subdivided and sold as smaller lots. The first apartment building was built in 1912 (#252) and the other two (#258 & 260) followed soon after.

The apartments represent the transition to increasingly dense development of this section of Arlington. This was in part spurred by the trolley car line that shortened commuting times into and out of Boston and Cambridge. The Holian Apartments are the oldest examples of a multifamily housing type that would come to predominate on Massachusetts Avenue in East Arlington over the course of the twentieth century. The opening of the subway at Harvard Square in 1912, with prospects of extending the rapid transit line already under discussion (but not realized until 1985)' was the likely catalyst for a project such as the Holian Apartments.

Green building techniques will also be employed in the renovation to create and allow for a more efficient building envelope and utility systems, water conservation measures, Energy Star appliances, the use of drought resident vegetation and more. Following renovations, the buildings will offer a mix of apartment sizes including studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, retaining 32 units overall.

HCA’s Executive Director David Levy recalled, “I recently went and pulled out HCA’s Strategic Plan for the period 2007-2012. Our first goal was to double HCA’s affordable apartments by 2012 from 46 to 100 units—we’re almost there!”

Laura Wiener, HCA co-founder and Arlington’s Director of Housing, presented HCA’s 2010 Deacon Frank Mandosa Community Service Award to Leon Cantor for his dedication and service to the Town of Arlington and spoke about his 36 year tenure in Arlington. Leon began as a social worker at the Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare and for over three decades continued to serve low-income residents as an advocate, social worker and counselor. He acted as the Director of the Arlington Youth Consultation Center and was on the review committee for HCA’s Homelessness Prevention Fund, assisting residents with housing issues. Though Leon officially retired last June, he continues to serve the community by gathering up produce at the end of the Farmers Market each Wednesday and deliver it to low-income residents. “To me,” Laura expressed, “That is an act of love.”

Leon spoke lovingly about the Town of Arlington and the people with whom he worked. He also shared, “It has been great to be a partner of the Housing Corporation, and watch them work diligently one project and one person at a time to make people’s lives better.”

Paul Parravano, HCA Board President, ended the morning’s presentation by asking participants for their support, “HCA cannot do its work in a vacuum. It’s important for us to know that you’re there to inspire us and keep us moving towards our goals.”

The House We Live In

2010-11-08T10:09:00.001-08:00

Please consider joining HCA for The House We Live In on Friday, November 12!

On Friday evening, November 12, the Diversity/Inclusion Group at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Arlington is hosting a showing of the provocative, hour-long documentary The House We Live In, a film which examines the roots of housing discrimination in the US and the implications of the unequal housing practices of the past for today's issues and challenges. There will be a guided discussion following the film, and refreshments will be served. This program is free and open to the community.

To explore the history and human face of housing discrimination in the United States, the First Parish Diversity/Inclusion Group (D/I G) will screen a PBS documentary film titled The House We Live In. There will be time for discussion after the film.

This program is sponsored by the Diversity and Inclusion Group of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Housing Corporation of Arlington (HCA), Arlington's Diversity Task Group, and the Arlington Human Rights Commission.

Friday Evening, November 12, 7 - 8:30 PM

Parlor of First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington

630 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476

Help HCA Prevent Homelessness in Arlington!

2010-11-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

In the next few weeks, Hosunig Corp of Arlington will be sending letters out to the entire Arlington community to fundraise for HCA’s Homelessness Prevention Fund. This fund provides grants to Arlington residents experiencing an emergency housing crisis that may lead to homelessness. This year to date we helped over 35 households.

To put this mailing together, we need your help to stuff, seal and send these envelopes!

We will be working from 9 AM-5 PM from Monday, November 8th to Thursday, November 18th, Monday to Friday. We WILL be working Veteran's Day!

Please let us know what times you can come by and help out at our HCA offices! Contact Joanna at 781-316-3606 or jain@housingcorparlington.org

2010 Annual Meeting!

2010-10-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

Please join HCA for our 2010 Annual Meeting!

Find out more about HCA's newest project in East Arlington!

The 2010 Deacon Frank Mandosa Community Service Award will be presented to Leon Cantor for his dedication and service to the Town of Arlington.

Flora Restaurant
Thursday, November 4
Registration: 7:30 AM
Program: 8:15 AM
Breakfast will be served.

Please RSVP to Jennifer Lewis-Forbes at

781-316-3451 or jlewis@housingcorparlington.org by October 22

Vote NO on 2!

2010-09-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

This November, Massachusetts voters will choose whether or not to keep the law supplying Massachusetts’ best tool to develop affordable housing. Question 2 will decide if the state law Chapter 40B, otherwise known as the Affordable Housing Law, will be repealed.

Over the last decade, this law has been responsible for approximately 80% of the affordable homes built outside of the Commonwealth’s major cities. The law has enabled builders to create 58,000 new homes in cities, suburbs, and small towns. A repeal of the law would halt the construction of 12,000 homes in the pipeline, and all of the jobs and economic benefits they would bring.

The Affordable Housing Law sets a goal for every city and town to require at least 10% of its homes to be affordable. It encourages construction of new homes by providing a comprehensive permit and flexible zoning for developers who build affordable homes. The number of cities and towns above the 10% threshold more than doubled from 24 in 1997 to 51 today, with an additional 40 communities above 8%.

The Affordable Housing Law creates homes, greater equity among communities, and opportunities for working families. Residents in these homes work in health care, education, construction, financial services, retail, human services, and in other occupations critical to our state’s workforce. Home prices and rents remain out of reach for many and, because of the recession, many families are struggling to get by. Massachusetts needs the Affordable Housing Law today more than ever. Please VOTE NO on Question 2.

Learn more at "Affordable Housing and the Ballot Question," Rep Kaufman's October 14th Open House at 7:30 PM at the Historic Depot in Lexington!

Thank You to our Spring Clean Up Crew!

2010-06-02T08:28:00.000-07:00

Thank you to the 25 plus volunteers who came out to clean up four

HCA properties for the spring!

Interested in other volunteer opportunities with HCA? Email Joanna at jain@housingcorparlington.org.

HCA Spring Clean Up!

2010-05-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

Join HCA on Saturday, May 22, 2010 as we clean up some of our two-families in Arlington. We will be raking, weeding and beautifying the properties for the summer.

This is a great project for the whole family!

Please note: If the participant is under 18, they must have a responsible adult with them.

We will have coffee and doughnuts at 8:30 AM and break for lunch at noon.

Please contact Joanna at 781-316-3606 or jain@housingcorparlington.org to

RSVP and for more details.

Thank You, Arlington Community!

2010-05-04T06:41:00.000-07:00

On April 11th, over 150 friends and neighbors came together and joined HCA for our 9th Annual Walk for Affordable Housing. Supported by dozens of local businesses, congregations and community groups, this year’s Walk was one of HCA's most successful events to date.

Not only did we raise awareness throughout Arlington about the need for more affordable housing in our community, but we raised over $42,000 to for HCA’s affordable housing and homelessness prevention initiatives.

Thank you, Arlington community, for your interest, involvement and support!

9th Annual Walk for Affordable Housing!

2010-03-08T06:08:00.000-08:00

Join HCA friends and supporters for our Walk for Affordable Housing!

Sunday, April 11th; 1-3 PM

A Family Friendly, Three Mile Walk Through Arlington

Starting at the Jason Russell House--Corner of Mass Ave and Jason Street

Featuring the Hot Tamales Brass Band, Molly the Clown and THE CHICKEN!
Free Food & Prizes!

For more walk info, please contact HCA at 781-316-3451 or walk@housingcorparlington.org.

HCA's New Program

2010-02-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

Exciting news--here is HCA's press release about our new program:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STIMULUS PROGRAM SET TO HELP ARLINGTON RESIDENTS

Arlington, MA – (February 8, 2010) – The Town of Arlington has selected Housing Corporation of Arlington (HCA), a non-profit organization working to prevent homelessness and provide more affordable housing, as the lead agency for Arlington’s Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). This new federal initiative is aimed at assisting very low-income households for up to eighteen months. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, $1.5 billion will be distributed to 400 communities across the country for homelessness prevention services. Starting in January, HCA began assisting Arlington residents struggling to stay in their housing.

Like the rest of the country, Arlington residents have fallen on hard times. Many have lost their jobs, and for some, unemployment has run out. Those who were self-employed—consultants, small business owners, and others—are struggling to find work and have no safety net. Families and individuals are left to look for other ways to make ends meet: doubling up with relatives, reluctantly using credit cards and leaving bills unpaid.

HCA has experienced a steep rise in the number of Arlington residents seeking assistance. In the last six months of 2009, those requesting help from HCA increased by 70% over the previous year. A month before HCA’s annual HPF appeal went out to the Arlington community, HCA had virtually run out of funds to help Arlington residents stabilize their housing situation. Although the small HPF grants given to families and individuals in danger of becoming homeless are helpful to many, it was clear that the demand for assistance was outpacing the resources that HCA could provide.

Arlington’s HPRP provides short- and medium-term assistance and services to families and individuals who are homeless or in danger of homelessness due to circumstances arising out of the downtown in the US economy. Unlike HCA’s original Homelessness Prevention Fund (HPF), which only gives short-term grants for housing assistance, the HPRP will help very low-income households with rent assistance and other housing-related services for up to eighteen months.

HCA Executive Director, David J. Levy, is pleased to take on this new challenge, “Not only does this program save taxpayers from paying towards the shelter system, but it helps families and individuals to remain in their homes or find stable housing. This perfectly aligns with HCA’s mission.”

Harmonizing a Home

2009-12-09T06:10:00.000-08:00

Recently, HCA was offered the chance for one of our tenants to redesign two of their rooms with Red Door DesignWorks, a local interior decorating firm that focuses on enhancing harmony in relationships and living spaces. HCA held a lottery for our tenants, and the winner got to work with Allison Carswell and Andrea Canty to transform her family’s living room and dining room.

Here are the results...

The before living room:

And the beautiful after!:

The dining room before Andrea & Allison got their hands on it:

And after!:

Thank you Red Door DesignWorks!

Forest-Peirce Project Ribbon Cutting

2009-11-16T08:56:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, November 5th, HCA celebrated the completion of ten more affordable units to add to our housing stock. We were thrilled to show neighbors, lenders, tenants, and other guests around the Forest-Peirce Project site.

Here are some HCA friends exploring the property:

A new bathroom at Peirce with a photo of the pre-rehabbed tub and sink:

HCA staff giving tours of the newly rehabbed units:

Peter Feinmann, president of Feinmann, Inc., talks about the work his crew did on the buildings:

State Representative Jay Kaufman speaks about the importance of affordable housing in Arlington:

The big moment...

...and it's cut!

Thank you HCA supporters for helping us continue to increase affordable housing in our community!

2009 Annual Meeting Recap

2009-11-12T11:39:00.000-08:00

This October, HCA celebrated our 23rd year with our 2009 Annual Meeting at Arlington Town Hall Auditorium:

HCA Board Member, Mary Doyle, presents HCA's 2009 Deacon Frank Mandosa Community Service Award to Liz Jaramillo of Friends of Gateway for her mobilization of the Arlington community to care for the over seventy homeless families staying at the Cambridge Gateway Inn:

Professor Barry Bluestone presents his finding on the Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2009:

Arlington Housing Authority (AHA) Commissioner Nick Mitropoulos, AHA Executive Director John Griffin, AHA Commissioner Teresa Walsh, David Levy, AHA Commissioner Brian Greeley:

Thank you all who came and supported HCA at our 2009 Annual Meeting!

Light on the Horizon: The Future of Housing

2009-10-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

HCA is thrilled to welcome Professor Barry Bluestone as our Keynote Speaker for our 2009 Annual Meeting. Professor Bluestone is the founding director of the Kitty and Michael Dukakis Center for Urban & Regional Policy and the Dean of the School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy at Northeastern University.

Professor Bluestone will report on the latest analysis of housing data to look at where we are in the housing cycle now and where we expect to be through the next three years.

HCA will also be presenting our 2009 Deacon Frank Mandosa Community Sevice Award to Liz Jaramillo of the Friends of Gateway. In honor of Liz, we are asking attendees to bring warm outdoor clothing to contribute to Friends of Gateway: Winter Boots, Socks, Coats, Hats, Gloves, Mittens, Scarves, Snow Pants & Snowsuits.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
6:00 PM
Arlington Town Hall Auditorium

Please contact Joanna at 781-316-3606 or jain@housingcorparlington.org for more details.

Hope you can join us!

HCA's First Weatherization Day: A Success!

2009-09-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

Under the incredible A-HEET leadership of Laurel Kayne and Jeremy Marin, along with half a dozen Team Leaders including Arlington Selectman Annie LaCourt, local electrician Joe DeNatale, Audrey Schulman, Jason Taylor, Woody Swan, Forbes Little, Marc Breslow, and Martin LaMonica, a crew of forty volunteers weatherized one of HCA's two-family houses on a very rainy September morning.

Volunteers painstakingly insulated the heating pipes, caulked windows and moldings, replaced incandescent bulbs with energy efficient CFLs, insulated electrical outlets and sealed exterior penetrations. From basement to attic, all parties involved had a hand in making the property as airtight as possible.

Peter Feinmann, President of Feinmann, Inc., orchestrated the final blower door test with his crew at the end of the work day. The average reduction in “air leakage” after weatherizing a home is around 11%. At this event, the group reduced one unit’s air flow by 12% and the other by 24%! Tenants in both units were extremely grateful for the improvements being made to their living space from so many volunteers.

A big "thank you" goes out to everyone who joined us--Great Job!

The HEET is on!

2009-08-19T04:59:00.000-07:00

As the weather changes from the hot days of summer to cold New England chills, we look to lower our heating costs in every way possible. In the summer of 2008, the Home Energy Efficiency Team, otherwise know as HEET, formed to bring community volunteers together to weatherize homes. Using the barn raising model, HEET aims to reduce the carbon footprint of specific houses, teach participants skills that they can use to make their own homes more energy efficient, and build a sense of community.

We are thrilled to announce that A-HEET (HEET’s Arlington chapter) and HCA are joining forces to weatherize one of HCA’s two-family houses. In order to locate the areas in the homes where the most cold air is coming in, Feinmann, Inc. is contributing a blower door test in the weeks preceding our work day in order to determine how much we can reduce the loss of heat through the combined air sealing efforts. Feinmann is also donating the materials for air sealing, including expanding foam, caulk, foam gaskets for electrical plates, and pipe wrap.

On the morning of Saturday, September 12th, using A-HEET’s expertise and guidance, HCA volunteers will air-seal the property and lower employ other methods of reducing energy usage, therefore lowering utility costs for the tenants and energy usage for the community at large.

Please contact Joanna at jain@housingcorparlington.org or 781-316-3606 for more details or (even better) if you would like to join us!

Forest-Peirce Rehab Updates

2009-07-17T12:05:00.000-07:00

Last winter, HCA purchased ten "new-to-us" units in Arlington Heights. Called the Forest-Peirce Project, the Peirce building is made up of four spacious one-bedroom units, and the adjacent Forest building holds one one-bedroom apartment and five two-bedrooms. The units are currently being outfitted with new kitchens, new bathrooms, new windows, new flooring, insulation and other amenities. For more information about the work we're doing on this Project, check out this link.

Take a look at these shots of our progress:

A photo of one of the old kitchens at our Forest property. Great light, nice space but clearly needs some updating.

Here's the another kitchen at the same property in the middle of renovation. We picked up the vinyl flooring and put in new tiles. Next are new cabinets...

Complete and beautiful! New appliances finish off a bright and airy eat-in-kitchen in this two-bedroom apartment. All it needs now is a good cook and some good eaters!

With the hard work of our contractors at Feinmann, Inc., HCA is on its way to having ten more affordable units in our portfolio. Stay tuned for more updates!

Welcome to HCA's Blog!

2009-07-02T15:43:00.000-07:00

Here is a place for our constituents to learn about HCA events, volunteer opportunities, affordable housing opportunities and policy alerts.

Welcome!