South Shore Bank provides $100,000 grant to Father Bill’s & MainSpring’s Yawkey Housing Center

Quincy, MA Father Bill’s & MainSpring (FBMS), a regional leader of services to prevent and end homelessness, has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the South Shore Bank Charitable Foundation in support of the non-profit’s innovative Yawkey Housing Resource Center. The gift is part of South Shore Bank’s ongoing efforts to support the local community through volunteerism and charitable donations.

The Yawkey Housing Resource Center, currently under construction and set to open in spring of 2023, will be home to a new service-delivery model that adds daytime supports and streamlines services with the goal of ending homelessness on the South Shore and across Southern Mass. The property at 39 Broad St. will include two new buildings comprised of a day center, an emergency shelter, and on-site efficiency apartments.

“We are thankful to South Shore Bank for believing in our bold vision to end homelessness,” said John Yazwinski, president & CEO of FBMS. “Beyond their generous grant toward the Yawkey Housing Resource Center, South Shore Bank’s leadership and branch employees are supporting our mission on the frontlines by volunteering their time to prepare and serve meals in our shelter kitchens. In many ways, South Shore Bank’s commitment to community helps provide hope to our most vulnerable neighbors.”

In 2021, South Shore Bank director of cash management and retail banking Robert DiGiovanni joined FBMS’ board of directors, who volunteer their time and talents to oversee the organization and develop its strategic plan. Recently, DiGiovanni was joined by CEO James Dunphy, chief marketing officer Jane Bowman, and marketing specialist Kelly Gillis to serve meals to guests of FBMS’ MainSpring House shelter in Brockton.

South Shore Bank has a long and generous record of giving to community groups including organizations focused on the arts, eliminating food insecurity and homelessness, community gardens, youth sports, and more.

“At South Shore Bank, serving the community is at our core, helping to create relationships with not only our clients, but the entire South Shore community. The support we are able to provide to Father Bill’s & MainSpring is a demonstration of our belief in the important work that they are doing for our community,” said Jim Dunphy.

FBMS’ Housing Resource Center (HRC) model aims to transform how a region assists individuals who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness by dedicating more staff and resources to homelessness prevention, diversion and rapid re-housing, thus reducing the overall reliance on overnight shelter and other costly emergency services.

Business and community leaders have hailed the HRC as a national model in the fight to end homelessness. FBMS plans to replicate the Yawkey Housing Resource Center with a new HRC in Brockton, set to break ground next year.

The $100,000 gift from South Shore Bank Charitable Foundation supports FBMS’ “A Path Home” campaign, which aims to raise $14 million privately to support capital and programmatic expenses at both HRCs. Individuals and businesses interested in supporting the “A Path Home” campaign can contact FBMS Chief Development Officer Catie Reilly at cmreilly@helpfbms.org or visit pathhome.helpfbms.org.

The Yawkey Housing Resource Center will be constructed across the street from FBMS’ existing emergency shelter, Father Bill’s Place, which will be knocked down as part of the City of Quincy’s plans to build a new Public Safety Complex. The first phase is a two-story, 16,000 square-foot building that will include the following: FBMS program and training spaces; co-located resources including a full, primary-care medical clinic, substance use and mental health services and housing assistance; shelter beds with lockers and showers for guests; a commercial kitchen space and dining area; and administrative offices.

The second phase is a four-story, 20,000 s/f building comprised of 30 units of permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals. FBMS currently operates more than 600 permanent supportive housing units for formerly homeless individuals, families, and Veterans across Southern Massachusetts.