Newton-Wellesley Hospital awards $1.9M To Local Collaborative

NEWTON, MA — Newton-Wellesley Hospital has awarded a $1.9 million grant to WATCH Community Development Corporation and MetroWest Collaborative Development, two local affordable housing organizations are collaborating to address housing insecurity in the communities surrounding the hospital.

WATCH CDC, located in Waltham, and Metro West CD, located in Newton, will use the funding to reduce inequities in housing security of low-income tenants, particularly among communities of color and immigrant communities in Natick, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Wellesley, and Weston.

“Low-income service workers and immigrant members of our community have been hit particularly hard by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Daria Gere, Executive Director of WATCH CDC, in a statement. “This grant strengthens the safety net for these most vulnerable members of our community, whilealso providing an exciting opportunity to partner with Newton-Wellesley Hospital to address the critical issue of housing insecurity in the cities and towns WATCH and Metro West CD serve.”

The four-year grant, which officially began last month, will allow the WATCH CDC and Metro West CD collaborative to build on existing case management-based housing clinics, heighten awareness of the mental health needs of those experiencing housing insecurity via a mental health consultant, and provide emergency financial assistance at its clinics.

In addition, the collaborative will hire a Job and Financial Planning Coordinator to mentor clients to greater financial self-sufficiency, work to expand the stock of affordable housing, and increase protections for tenants through community organizing and advocacy.

“This grant is a tremendous recognition of the hard work it takes to really help people solve their
housing crises,” said Jennifer Van Campen, Executive Director of Metro West CD, in a statement. “This kind of multi-year funding is unusual and is a testament to Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s commitment to addressing all of the issues that affect people’s health."

According to NWH, there is a correlation between safe, secure, and affordable housing and health. Individuals facing housing insecurity are more likely to experience poor health than those in stable housing and numerous studies have documented the relationship between eviction and adverse health and mental health outcomes.

For more information about NWH grant programs, click here.