MassHousing approves $390,000 for 54 affordable sober housing units

MassHousing has approved $390,000 in funding for the creation or preservation of affordable sober housing for men and women in Roxbury, Westfield, Holyoke, Gloucester and Lowell. The MassHousing grants, ranging from $23,672 to $90,000, will come from the Center for Community Recovery Innovations, Inc. (CCRI), a nonprofit subsidiary corporation of MassHousing that creates and preserves affordable sober housing in Mass. for recovering substance abusers. CCRI to date has awarded more than $4 million in grants for sober housing for more than 1,000 units of substance-free housing in more than two dozen communities for men, women, families, veterans, the homeless and ex-offenders. "Affordable sober housing is an extremely valuable resource that is sorely needed across Massachusetts," said MassHousing executive director Thomas Gleason. "These grants from CCRI are a small investment compared to the immeasurable benefits they produce to the men and women who use affordable sober housing as an important stepping stone back to being healthy and productive members of society." Receiving grants in the latest round of CCRI funding are: *Casa Esperanza, Nueva Esperanza, Roxbury, $75,000 to help fund the construction of 14 new efficiency units for men and women. Financing partners are the city of Boston, state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB). *Domus, Inc., The Reed House Annex, Westfield, $75,000 to help construct 8 new efficiency units for men and women. Financing partners include the city of Westfield, DHCD and FHLB. *Providence Ministries for the Needy, Broderick House, Holyoke, $90,000 to convert a recently closed emergency shelter into 20 new single room occupancy units for men and women. The improvements will include a new roof, flooring, bathrooms, plumbing and handicapped accessibility. Financing partners include TD Banknorth and multiple private foundations. *Action, Inc., Shelter to Housing, Gloucester, $23,672 to help in the construction of 4 new housing units for men and women. CCRI initially awarded Action, Inc. $51,328 in November of 2007 and construction is ongoing. *Bridgewell, Inc., Pathfinder Apartments II, Lowell, $75,000 to help construct 12 new single room occupancy units for men and women. Financing partners include HUD, DHCD and the city of Lowell. Construction is ongoing.