Braintree, MA Thanks to a multi-year funding commitment from Cambridge Savings Bank, Caritas Communities has purchased two new maintenance vans to support its newest workforce development program. This new maintenance team is led by an experienced senior facilities manager and staffed by Caritas residents who receive training and career mentoring in all aspects of facilities maintenance. Training includes standards and preparation for REAC inspections and additional high-level compliance requirements. These skills are highly sought after in the current job market.

“As a long term partner of Caritas Communities, we admire the work they do to help people who have struggled with poverty and homelessness get back on their feet through stable housing and support,” said Wayne Patenaude, president and CEO of Cambridge Savings. “Building their workforce by training residents to do needed maintenance of their properties is a win-win. We are proud to be a partner in this program.”

“Our portfolio of 33 buildings with over 900 units needs constant maintenance. Our new Facilities Maintenance Program is centralizing functions such as room turnover, painting, repairs, and upkeep, and with the addition of these new vans will create financial and operational efficiencies and improve the quality of life of our residents,” said Karin Cassel Mitterando, who took over as executive director of Caritas Communities last April. “70% of Caritas residents have experienced homelessness, and all suffer from the trauma of poverty. For people who have been homeless or in unsafe housing, having an attractive, well-maintained home is critical to rebuilding self-esteem and the foundation for a better life. Who better do this work than our residents, who understand the value of the housing and crave opportunities to be self-sufficient and contribute to their community?”