Project Hope Annual Report 2021

Our Dorchester and Roxbury community of the 70s and 80s looked vastly different than it does today. There were frequent fires, a lack of safe housing and no understanding of family homelessness. Seeing the challenges before the community, Sister Margaret Leonard and the Little Sisters of the Assumption opened the doors of their convent and shared their home with women and families who had nowhere else to go. The Sisters knew that only from the safety of shelter could the women tap the capacity within themselves to take their next step forward.

Living side by side and experiencing each woman’s personal journey germinated the seed that became Project Hope Boston.

PROJECT HOPE THROUGH THE YEARS

1947–1979

The Little Sisters of the Assumption assist families in crisis.

1980 1990 2000 2010

1980–1989

The Sisters open their doors to women and children experiencing homelessness. Project HOPE—House Open People Enter is founded.

1990–1994

Education and affordable childcare programs are established.

1995–1999

Career exploration, job development, and continuing education programs are added.

2000–2005

Collaborative partnerships and advocacy networks are expanded.

2006–2007

Our Community Building at 550 Dudley Street was built from the ground up.

2008–2020

Ambassador’s Bureau is established for women’s leadership development. New housing programs are developed, including eviction prevention work in partnership with area schools and hospitals.

Groundbreaking ceremony to kick off the construction of the Community Building

2020

2021–PRESENT

40th Anniversary Campaign is launched to expand the Family Shelter’s capacity to serve more families.

Our Family Shelter meets critical needs of families experiencing homelessness

Sister Margaret Leonard tells our story

MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR

Thousands of women and children have found hope, peace and the opportunity to improve their lives since we opened our doors 40 years ago. While our Family Shelter was one of the first in Massachusetts, our organization has evolved over time to provide additional programs that support women to secure and stabilize housing, reach educational goals, obtain employment, and so much more.

As we celebrate 40 years of service in Boston’s Dorchester and Roxbury neighborhood, we are inspired by the collaboration and resilience we see in our community each and every day—but know that the work of addressing homelessness and economic mobility is far from over.

Our 2021 Annual Report celebrates our legacy in this community and shares the progress we have made together. We are grateful to the enduring commitment of our donors, volunteers, and partners who make it all possible.

Maureen Pompeo BOARD CHAIR

Success spotlight: Mimi

Mimi made the courageous decision to leave an unhealthy living situation. With two small children, she knew she had to do whatever it took to find stability for her family. When Mimi walked through the doors at our Project Hope Boston Family Shelter in Dorchester, she immediately felt a sense of peace and security. From there, she was able to focus on her goals and participate in programs that helped her acquire new skills, obtain employment and find permanent housing for her family.

“

I felt safe and at home at Project Hope and from there, I found the confidence to take the next step.”

Who we serve

65%

of our families live in Dorchester or Roxbury

Our program impact

Housing

1,345 families received eviction prevention support, housing placement support and/or housing search assistance

684 families avoided homelessness due to the Rental Relief Fund in partnership with the City of Boston

75%

of the heads of household are single women 52%

of our families earn an annual income of $20,000 or less

Workforce and Education Family Shelter

126 children enrolled in our Family Childcare Network 150 students attended our workforce education and ESOL classes

Investment

in technology, equipment and training to transition to a virtual classroom model and remote learning capabilities

11 Bedrooms

consistently full throughout the year, sheltering a total of 26 women and 37 children

9,629,179

2021 HIGHLIGHTS

Increased collaboration with the City of Boston

In 2021 Project Hope Boston collaborated with the City of Boston to administer the Rental Relief Fund to support Boston residents who had difficulty paying rent during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of this partnership with the city, we were able to assist 684 families in avoiding eviction and remaining in their homes during a challenging time.

Expanding the Family Shelter

As we entered the 40th year of providing shelter to families, we began an expansion and renovation project at the shelter to accommodate larger families. We set an ambitious goal of raising $1,000,000 and are on schedule to open the new space in late fall 2022. The new space will contain accessible indoor space and an accessible outdoor playground for children.

Virtual fundraiser

Project Hope’s Fitness Fundraising Campaign

Like many organizations that had to adjust to the realities of COVID-19, Project Hope Boston could not host our signature fundraising event and Boston Marathon team in 2021. But that did not stop us from mobilizing hundreds of people in support of our families through the use of virtual fundraising events.

Investment in technology

The pandemic reinforced the value of technology, and we launched several initiatives to benefit our families. More specifically, we:

Provided dozens of technology packages (laptops, printers, etc.) to families

Created online instruction options for ESOL and workforce programs

Hired a full-time technology specialist who provides ongoing training and support to program participants and staff

Developed data collections systems that allow us to use participant feedback to enhance the program experience

BOARD AND CONTRACTS GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS CONTRACTS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CITY OF BOSTON

Continuum of Care Rapid Rehousing

Community Development Block Grant

Department of Neighborhood Development Emergency Solutions Grant

Neighborhood Jobs Trust

Rental Relief Fund

BUSINESS Boston Children’s Hospital Mass General Brigham

STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS

Childcare Choices of Boston

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Department of Housing and Community Development

Department of Early Education

Department of Transitional Assistance

Mary Jo Bane Michelle Botus Secretary Richard Burns Ruth Carey Cheryl Clark Jay Gonzalez Vice Chair Rev. Art Gordon Donna Haig-Friedman

John Markey Nakira Minot Adelene Perkins Maureen Pompeo Chair Jeri Robinson Janine Salyards Treasurer Robert Shanley Maureen Walker Michael A. West, Jr.

1K+ DONORS

A.C. Ratshesky Foundation

Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD)

Richard and Elizabeth Allen

Anonymous (13)

Kathy Anuszewski

Artists for Humanity

Paul and Edith Babson Foundation

Mary Jo Bane

Bank of America Perpetual Trust Baupost Group, LLC

Elaine Bergman

Boston Children’s Hospital

Boston Children’s Hospital Community Partnership Fund

The Boston Foundation

John Bradley Michael Brennan Edward Buckbee

Richard Burns

Ruth and Tim Carey

Stephen Carr and Louise Elving

Paul and Ann Carroll

James Cashel and Anne Ching

Bushrod H. Campbell and Adah F. Hall Charity Fund

Catholic Extension

Cedilla Therapeutics Inc

Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.

Chapman Construction

Charles H. Cross Charitable Foundation

Citizens Energy Corporation

Alicia Cooney and Stephen Quigley

Joseph E. and Rosemarie Corcoran Family Foundation

Beth and Colin Corkery

Christopher Corkery

Winifred Johnson Clive Foundation Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation

Douglas and Karen Elmendorf

Jessica Elton

Annissa Essaibi George Fidelity Foundation Forest Foundation

Franklin Square House Foundation Tamar Frieze

Barry and Moira Gault Anne Giovanoni

Alexandra Glucksmann Jay Gonzalez

Brett and Abby Gordon

Alison Gray

Myla Green

Greylock Roofing Company

Carolyn and Timothy Grimes Lin and Bruce Haas

Donna Haig Friedman and Steven Friedman

Harvard Kennedy School of Government

Kathleen Henry and Kim Marrkand Rosalind and Herb Hill Hinckley Allen

Barbara and Amos Hostetter Patty Houpt

Patricia and Richard Houpt Family Fund

Linda Hoyt Hunt Street Fund

The Janey Fund

Stephen Jenks

JP Morgan Chase

J-PAL North America

The Judy Family Foundation

Janice Klunder

Andrew Knez

Debra Knez

Jessica Knez

Knollmeyer Building Corp. Kritzman-Gorman Charitable Fund

Liberty Mutual Foundation, Inc.

Life Science Cares, Inc

Susana Lopez and Douglas Levin

Lovett-Woodsum Foundation

Ludcke Foundation

M&T Bank, formerly People’s United Community Foundation

John Markey and Kimberley O’Connor

Elizabeth Martin Massachusetts Bankers Association

Bill McCall McCall & Almy

William McCullen

Herman & Frieda L. Miller Foundation Mintz

Emil Moldovan Elizabeth Morgan Henry Nasella Needham Bank Marisol Negron David Neskey NHP Foundation Dick and Kathy Norman

The National Alliance to End Homelessness Oak Foundation Lorraine Obst Andrew Olson one8 Foundation

P&G Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Patriot Care

Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund Adelene and Roland Perkins

Petrlik Florence Family Foundation

Maureen Pompeo

Prince Lobel Tye LLP

Proctor and Company

Derek and Ellen Reisinger Elaine Reisman

Belinda Rogers

Daniel Rosen

RSM

Roberta Rubin and Don Abrams St. Cecilia’s Parish

Janine and Brian Salyards

Charles Sanders Trust

Maggie Schmidt and Kenneth Danila

Michael Scott

Shanahan Family Foundation Robert and Andrea Shanley Elaine Shea

William Shea

Gerard Sheehan and Marilyn Kuhar

Siemer Institute

Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston

Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation

Anna B. Stearns Charitable Foundation

Abbot & Dorothy H. Stevens Foundation

John Sullivan Svrluga Foundation

Jean Temple

Karen and Thomas Tierney

Tiny Tiger Foundation

United Parish of Auberndale United Way of Massachusetts Bay Deborah Valenze

Vermont Mutual Insurance Group Allison Volpe

Katherine Walker

Maureen Walker and William Larkin

Charles and Patricia Walsh

Frederick E. Weber Charities Corp. Michael West, Jr. Women’s Foundation of Boston

Wyss Charitable Endowment