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In This Issue:
Building a Stronger Sense of Community
On October 27, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino joined leaders of BWH, Partners HealthCare, Harvard Medical School (HMS) and the Roxbury Tenants of Harvard (RTH), to celebrate a unique community partnership that has resulted in new opportunities for the hospital and its neighbors.
The innovative partnership between BWH, HMS and RTH has met the needs of both the community and the hospital by preserving affordable housing for members of the Mission Hill neighborhood and assisting the long-term growth needs of BWH.
As part of the agreement, RTH has gained ownership of 53 properties in the neighborhood surrounding the hospital, protecting affordable housing for area residents. Under this agreement, RTH is in the process of relocating six houses from Francis Street and Fenwood Road to vacant parcels on adjacent blocks. Four of the six houses have been moved to their permanent sites. The last two homes are scheduled to be moved by mid-November. BWH is in the planning stages of constructing a clinical building on this newly vacant land.
In addition to securing affordable housing by selling parcels to RTH, BWH and Partners have committed more than $1 million to enhance community programming for area residents. The new programming will include job training and education, employment opportunities, asthma education, violence prevention education and first aid and CPR training for residents.