In 1969, through the vision of Msgr. Michael F. Groden and the leadership of Cardinal Richard Cushing, the Planning Office for Urban Affairs, Inc. was established. Today, four decades and 2,500 units of housing later, the Planning Office remains firmly rooted in its mission to create vibrant communities and work for social justice on behalf of all those who are housing deprived.
Pope Paul VI, in celebrating World Peace Day in 1972, said "If you want peace, work for justice." We believe that a decent, safe and affordable home for all people is at the very heart of a just society. Without a home finding a job, educating your children, feeding and caring for your family and being an active member of your community is impossible, and with out these things there is no opportunity for peace. Having a decent, affordable home affects literally every aspect of our lives, and not having one devastates even the strongest among us.
The Church has long been involved in housing the homeless and those of modest means in a manner that respects human dignity and encourages the personal development of each individual in our collective community. It is within that context, and with that charge, that we get our direction and pursue our work.
Over the past year the Planning Office for Urban Affairs (POUA) has made significant and exciting progress on six key developments. We completed Bruyere Gardens II in Lowell; are nearing completion of The St. Aidan in Brookline; began construction on the Hayes Building in Haverhill; and reached major milestones on Rose Hill Manor at St. Theresa's Parish in Billerica, Upton Street in Boston working in partnership with the Pine Street Inn, and St. Joseph's Redevelopment in Salem. This work builds on POUA's success at Rollins Square, a 184-unit award winning mixed-income community in Boston's South End, and our acclaimed neighborhood revitalization work at St. Jean Baptiste in Lynn.
In addition to its housing development work, the Office continues its strong advocacy efforts to increase affordable housing resources at both the state and federal levels and encourage policies that support housing production. To that end, I recently served on the Governor's Interagency Council for Housing and Homelessness New Supply Task Force and on Mayor Menino's Leading the Way III Panel. I continue to represent POUA on the MassHousing Multi-Family Advisory Committee; on CHAPA's Chapter 40B Committee; and on the Board of Trustees of the Housing Partnership Network and of Catholic Charities of Boston. It is our hope that these efforts, along with those of countless other advocates in our housing community, will renew the commitment to providing affordable housing for all those in need that is so lacking in our current culture.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, as the severe economic crisis facing our nation creates unimaginable hardship for so many, the Office has responded by partnering with service providers to prevent homelessness and working with advocate groups to encourage resident protections for those facing home foreclosure. We have joined forces with the Fall River Diocese to address foreclosures in New Bedford, and provided information to nearly 300 parishes and 150 schools across the Archdiocese to help people facing foreclosures. In the midst of this crisis people are losing their homes at alarming rates. As this tragic trend continues over the coming year with rising unemployment, we must re-double our efforts to help our neighbors in need.
We are deeply grateful to our community, parish and financial partners who work hard with us each day to accomplish our shared objective of helping the housing deprived (please see our "Partners and Supporters" page). We simply could not carry out our mission without your support. Thank you, on behalf of our Office and all those we have the honor to serve.
Lisa B. Alberghini, President