Brighton, MA – 2Life Communities has been granted over $7.6 million by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, as announced earlier this week.
These funds are part of HUD’s recent allocation of $160 million in grants to non-profit organizations nationwide that support the development of new or renovated affordable multifamily rental housing, as well as ongoing project-based rental assistance for low- and very low-income seniors.
The grant funding for 2Life, known as the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly, will be used to create 127 new affordable apartments for seniors with supportive services at Brooke House at Olmsted Village. This is one of three affordable housing developments planned on the former site of the Boston State Hospital in Mattapan. In addition to 2Life’s village center, the ground floor of Brooke House will feature a daycare center with intergenerational programming opportunities and satellite space for the Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center to provide on-site health services.
“2Life is excited to receive this 202 award from HUD, which will help us create 127 100% affordable supportive senior apartments in Mattapan,” said Lizbeth Heyer, Vice President and acting CEO at 2Life Communities. “This incredible federal support will contribute to 2Life’s efforts to secure the remaining funds necessary for all the apartments to support low-income seniors aging in community, a significant and growing need among older adults in the state.”
The apartments at Brooke House will be available to households earning up to 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and will be designated for seniors aged 62 and over. To support Boston’s goal of ending homelessness, 2Life has committed to allocating a minimum of 10% of units for unhoused or formerly unhoused households, a goal also shared by HUD officials. The Mayor’s Office of Housing has already pledged $6 million in affordable housing funds for the project. “This demonstration of strong local support contributed to 2Life’s ability to secure this competitive HUD funding, and for that, we are also very grateful,” Heyer said.
“HUD is proud to announce the funding going to 2Life Communities to assist seniors in Mattapan secure safe, affordable housing as they age in place,” said Juana Matias, HUD New England Regional Administrator. “This program reaffirms our shared commitment to preventing and ending homelessness for people at every stage of life, and HUD commends 2Life and all their partners for their hard work and dedication to providing healthy, stable places for seniors to call home.”
2Life Communities is one of 25 organizations in the United States to receive this round of Section 202 funding. In total, the $160.1 million in HUD funding will support the construction and operation of 1,262 new rent-assisted apartments for low- and very low-income seniors.
“Housing is a human right, and everyone deserves a high-quality, affordable, and healthy place to call home, including our elders,” said U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Massachusetts). “I appreciate the meaningful work 2Life Communities has undertaken and always welcome the opportunity to connect with my constituents at 2Life. These essential federal funds will have a lasting impact on the families served by their efforts. These are the types of housing solutions we should be scaling up and investing in across the country so that people can age in community.”
“Providing easy access to health services for our senior residents is a crucial aspect of building housing that meets the needs of our elderly population,” said Edward Augustus Jr, Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. “HLC is proud to support this development.”
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