昆市長慶聖誕 邀亞裔同歡 報告昆市中心重建起死回生

年關將近，聖誕節在望，昆士市長柯奇（Thomas P. Koch）昨（19）日中午在市長辦公室熱情歡迎民眾，共享慶祝聖誕午餐，提醒亞裔民眾，請登記為選民，明年選舉，別忘了出席投票。

            昆士市長柯奇昨日表示，2014算是好年，有不少進展，昆市中心重建計劃救了回來，2015將是昆市踏入轉型期的一年。

            柯奇坦言，2014年發生了很多事，現在昆市的房地產很熱，發展商蓋住宅的興趣極高，市中心重建計劃已起死回生，將於四月動工，另外兩個發展商也提案建造十五層高的大樓，全市各地都有很多經濟發展活動在進行中。學校的辦理情況也好極了。倒是道路，橋樑，下水道，海岸線等基礎建設，仍然是一大挑戰。

            昆市中心重建計劃原本由來自紐約的街道工程（Street Works）承建，估計將耗資16億元，面積廣達55英畝。該公司還在美國銀行所在大樓旁，為預計一億二千萬元的商住大樓“商人排（Merchants Row）“，舉行了破土動工儀式，但沒多久後，整個發展計畫就在今年三月全面叫停了。

            今年十一月下旬，柯奇和昆市互惠（Quincy Mutual）保險公司及項目投資者達成協議，一項新的一億元發展計畫重新啟動。原本的“商人排”將改成六層樓高，有169個住宅單位， 12,000平方呎零售面積的大樓，名稱也改成”板栗西樓（West of Chestnut）“，預計2016年夏天完工。另外一座“板栗東樓”將有220個住宅單位，什麼時候開始蓋，目前還是未知數。

            柯奇昨日還和亞裔民眾談及選舉問題，即將於2015年競選第五度連任的柯奇感嘆到，現在的年輕人，對政治都不感興趣，只有總統大選才稍微熱情一點，但對人們的實際生活而言，地方政治才最重要。

            柯奇也提及亞裔選民應該加強登記成為選民，積極出席投票。他指出，上一次的總統大選，昆士市內的亞裔選民，只有1800人出席投票，以昆市亞裔人口之多，出席投票人數應該遠比該數目為高才是。

            根據美國人口統計局地2013年數據，昆士市總人口約92,595，其中亞裔有20,181，佔全市人口22.8％，華裔則有14,376，佔總人口15.5%。

            柯奇相信，由於州長選舉時，他支持查理貝克，相信州政府與昆市將來的關係會很好，2015會是昆市的好年 。

        昨日出席昆市長聖誕慶祝會的華裔民眾，包括中華頤養院董事會主席雷偉志，院長陳力，亞美社區發展中心（ACDC）行政主任陳潔瑩，富士（Fuji）集團管理高層，也是昆市亞協服務中心董事的梁戰成，市長的鄰居梁燕珍等，人數之多破歷年紀錄。

圖片說明：

            部分出席聖誕慶祝會的華人，和昆士市長柯奇（前中）合影。（菊子攝）

            所屬集團在昆士市內開有五家餐廳的梁戰成（右）昨日也出席慶祝會，和市長柯奇（左）打招呼。（菊子攝）

            昆士市長柯奇（左）的姻親基南（John F. Keenan）（右）今年順利連任麻州參議員。（菊子攝）

            亞美社區發展協會行政主任陳潔瑩（左一）率同該會工作人員大陣仗出席昆市長的聖誕慶祝會，和麻州參議員基南（John F. Keenan）（中）喜相逢。（菊子攝）

            昆市長柯奇（左）的聖誕慶祝會，連聯邦眾議員林奇（Steven Lynch）（右）都來參加。地產經紀鄭春華（中）抓住機會，順利合影。（菊子攝）

摩頓市獲州政府撥款六百萬元 市中心二年後改頭換面

麻州住宅及經濟發展長（Housing and Economic Development Secretary）畢樂基（Greg Bialecki）昨（十九）日給摩頓市送聖誕大禮，宣佈州府撥款六百萬元，協助摩頓市重振市中心。

摩頓市長葛帝生（Gary Christenson）興奮表示，在摩頓市議會、市府全體員工，發展商傑弗孫（Jefferson）公寓集團等的合作下，摩頓市已通過了的市政府大樓喬遷，原址改建商住兩用大廈，新建警察局總部等計畫，將在州政府撥款支持下，進行得更順利。

根據摩頓市府公佈的資料，摩頓市府大樓將在市政府大樓改建工程進行時，暫遷他處，待完工後，再遷進新建的商住兩用大樓，預定2018年建成。新警察局總部，會建在將成為麻州第23個成長區（Growth District）的東方大道（Eastern Avenue)794-838號上，估計需耗資三百四十萬元，預定2015年春施工，2016年完工。

麻州政府早前已經由“麻州有效（MassWorks）“項目，撥款三百萬元，現追加六百萬元，共給出九百萬元，幫助摩頓市來讓市中心改頭換面。

葛帝生指出，整個摩頓市中心重建計劃，約需斥資三千二百萬元。摩頓市將在州政府撥給的補助款外，另發行一千二百五十萬元市債，再加上出售市府大樓約可獲得的一千零廿六萬元，來湊齊所需款項。

摩頓市府的重建計劃，除了把座落在橘線地鐵站對面的現有摩頓市政府大樓拆掉重建外，還將容許目前被市政府大樓切成兩半的愉悅（Pleasant）街，重新連接起來，進而讓交通流暢，帶動更多人流，車流與機會。

摩頓市政府原本打算把市政府大樓搬到其他地方去，在敦請哈佛大學設計學院研究院做了城區及社區發展研究後，決定把市政府大樓留在原有地段。摩頓市府的規劃，因而已改成在傑弗遜公寓集團建成商住兩用大樓後，斥資四百萬元，買下其中的北樓，再經由公開招標方式，做內部裝修。

摩頓市府表示，一旦相關工程完成後，摩頓市政府將是麻州之內第一個設在一座綜合用途大樓內的市政府。

發展商傑弗遜公寓集團將投資一億元，在摩頓市政府大樓，以及警察局總部原址，建南、北兩座大樓。該集團發展副總裁Sandi Silk表示，該集團將建造南180，北54的共約234個市價單位，25,000平方呎的一樓零售店面，有276個停車位的三層樓停車場，另有42,000平方呎的面積，將留給摩頓市政府做辦公室。

摩頓市政府表示，市政府大樓及警察局總部的改建發展計畫，是以交通為重心，整個重建摩頓市中心計畫的一部分。該地段已有80個市價出租住宅單位的”摩頓車站住宅大樓（Residences @ Malden Station）在今年秋季竣工了，另有包括195個市價出租單位，以及9,600平方呎零售店面的土地發展計劃在施工中。

圖片說明：

            摩頓市長葛帝生（Gary Christenson）（左）為又得六百萬元，興奮地和麻州住宅及經濟發展長（Housing and Economic Development Secretary）畢樂基（Greg Bialecki）握手。（菊子攝）

            摩頓市長葛帝生（Gary Christenson）向昨日出席宣佈會眾人，展示新的警察局設計圖樣。（菊子攝）

            發展商傑弗遜公寓集團展示的市政府大樓一帶重建後的各公寓大樓分佈概況。（菊子攝）

BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL SETTLES DATA BREACH ALLEGATIONS

BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL SETTLES DATA BREACH ALLEGATIONS 

Hospital to Take Steps to Prevent Future Data Security Violations

BOSTON – Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) has agreed to pay $40,000 and take steps to prevent future security violations following allegations related to a data breach that affected patient information, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today. 

The consent judgment, entered today in Suffolk Superior Court, alleges that BCH failed to protect the personal information and protected health information of more than 2,000 patients. 

“Healthcare providers must ensure that the privacy and security of sensitive patient information is protected,” AG Coakley said. “Today’s settlement will put in place and enforce important technological and physical security measures at Boston Children’s Hospital to help prevent a breach like this from happening again.” 

According to the complaint against BCH, an unencrypted, BCH-issued laptop was stolen from a BCH physician while he was presenting at a May 2012 conference in Buenos Aires.  Before the laptop was stolen, the physician received an email from a colleague containing the protected health information of 2,159 patients including names, dates of birth, diagnoses, procedures, and dates of surgery. More than 1,700 patients were under the age of 18. 

The physician took steps that he thought were adequate to remove the protected health information from the laptop. However, the information from the email remained on the laptop and despite BCH’s written policies, encryption software was not installed prior to the incident.

Under the terms of the consent judgment, BCH will pay $40,000, including a $30,000 civil penalty and a payment of $10,000 to a fund administered by the AG’s Office for educational programs concerning the protection of personal information and protected health information.

BCH will also take steps to ensure future compliance with state and federal data security laws and regulations, including properly tracking all portable devices such as laptops, encrypting and physically securing those portable devices, and training its workforce on the proper handling of personal information and protected health information. The hospital will also continue a review and audit of security measures and take corrective measures recommended in the review.

The lawsuit was filed under the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act.

The AG’s Office is focused on ensuring that health care entities abide by the state and federal data privacy requirements to protect personal information and protected health information. Recent efforts include a 2012 settlement with South Shore Hospital for $750,000, a 2013 settlement with medical billing company Goldthwait Associates and its client pathology groups, and a $150,000 settlement with Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island in July 2014. 

Most recently, on Nov. 20, 2014, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center agreed to pay $100,000 in a settlement with the AG’s Office after it allegedly failed to protect the personal and protected health information of nearly 4,000 patients and employees.

The BCH matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Shannon Choy-Seymour of AG Coakley’s Health Care Division.

BRA/EDIC Board modifies tentative designation for parcel in Roxbury to allow MassDOT to construct new transportation building

BRA/EDIC Board modifies tentative designation for parcel in Roxbury to allow MassDOT to construct new transportation building

Also approves $79.5 million in projects that will add 178 residential units

BOSTON – Last night, the Board of Directors for the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) and Economic Development Industrial Corporation (EDIC) approved four development projects with a combined value of $79.5 million. Three of the projects will create 178 units of housing in Jamaica Plain, Dorchester, and Hyde Park. The Board also approved a 97-room expansion of the Bayside DoubleTree Hotel in Dorchester.

Of particular note at the meeting was the Board’s action to revise the tentative designation for Parcel P-3 in Roxbury so that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) can develop nearly one million square feet of space for a new state transportation building, the National Center for Afro-American Artists museum, and retail, entertainment, and educational uses. Since 2007, the parcel has been tentatively designated to Elma Lewis Partners, which later merged with FeldCo Development Corporation to form P-3 Partners, to develop the mixed-use Tremont Crossing project.

MassDOT is expected to construct approximately 800,000 square feet of office space and 21,000 square feet of space for the museum. The state agency will lease an additional 126,000 square feet of floor space to P-3 Partners for the retail and other uses. With several major development projects taking shape in that area of Roxbury, the BRA hopes that MassDOT will be a catalyst for jumpstarting construction at the site.

In addition to the development projects that are slated to move forward, the Board also approved the hiring of McKinsey & Company to conduct an independent evaluation of the BRA’s Planning Division. The firm was awarded a $420,000 contract for consultant services to complete an end-to-end review of the division’s activities, processes, and procedures, as recommended by KPMG’s audit of the BRA earlier this year. Charged with a wide scope of work, McKinsey will analyze the performance, transparency, and efficiency of the BRA’s planning functions beginning in January, with the goal of completing the review and issuing recommendations by the spring.

Below is a summary of the development projects approved at last night’s meeting.

The Community Builders, Inc. and development partner will construct 124 units of housing, ground floor retail, and new green space in Jamaica Plain

Total Project Cost: $40,000,000

Total SF: 193,310

Construction Jobs: 121

Developer JP Parcel U, LLC and The Community Builders, Inc are partnering on a three phase project to bring 124 residential units, over 1,600 square feet of ground floor retail, approximately 1,000 square feet of community space, and three new pocket parks to Parcel U in Jamaica Plain. Phase A and B consist of 48 condominium units spread across 24 energy efficient townhouses. Phase C, which will be developed and managed by The Community Builders, will consist of a mid-rise multifamily mixed-use residential building with 76 rental units. At total build out, the project will result in approximately 193,310 square feet of development, including parking and utilities.

Construction of Phase A is expected to begin in the spring of 2015 and be completed by the summer of 2016. Phase B is currently scheduled to begin in spring 2016, with completion anticipated in summer 2017. Phase C will not begin construction until spring 2017 in order to allow the development team to secure public funding for the affordable housing component. The project will ultimately include 38 affordable rental units and six affordable homeownership units.

The project will revitalize a former MBTA site. Conservation Services Group is the LEED sustainability consultant.

Bayside DoubleTree Hotel in Dorchester set to expand with 97 additional rooms

Total Project Cost: $28,000,000

Total SF: 68,500

Construction Jobs: 85

Located a quarter mile away from the MBTA’s JFK/UMass Station, the Bayside DoubleTree Hotel received approval to construct a 68,500 square foot addition with 97 new rooms. The six-story, L-shaped add-on will be built on the northeast side of the hotel on a surface parking lot. When the project is complete, the hotel will have a total of 294 rooms. The addition includes new conference and meeting space, a 4,000 square foot dividable ballroom, a restaurant and a bar, and meeting rooms.

The corner of Mount Vernon Street and the Mount Vernon Street extension will be landscaped to add new green space, an eight-foot wide paved pathway, and plantings to soften the 16,000 square foot area. The expansion will also provide 50 new bicycle parking spaces.

By creating new commercial and public space, the project will contribute to the continued revitalization of Columbia Point. The developer, Corcoran Jennison Companies, expects to begin the renovations in 2015 and finish them by March 2017.

New housing and a restaurant in store for Neponset Avenue in Dorchester

Total Project Cost: $5,500,000

Total SF: 31,565

Construction Jobs: 17

A new development with 22 units of housing and a 250-seat restaurant approved at last night’s meeting is poised to transform a block in Dorchester that fronts Minot Street and busy Neponset Avenue. The project, with a 26,065 square foot residential component and 5,500 square feet of restaurant space, will revitalize and expand upon an existing structure at 367Neponset Avenue. The development team cited a goal of activating that corner of the neighborhood, which doesn’t currently have many amenities to serve residents in the evening hours, by creating a local dining option.

After hearing feedback from community members, the overall height of the project was reduced from four floors above the parking garage to three, and the residential façade was recessed so that the building fits in more naturally with the aesthetics of the surrounding area.

The project, which includes three affordable housing units to meet the city’s Inclusionary Development Policy requirements, was designed by Sousa Design Architects. A timeline for construction has not yet been set.

Commercial building on River Street in Hyde Park to be rehabbed for condominium units

Total Project Cost: $6,000,000

Total SF: 40,686

Construction Jobs: 18

A two story commercial building at 1580 River Street in Hyde Park will be completely rehabilitated in order to create 32 condominium units, including four affordable units, along with on-site and off-street parking. To accommodate the new housing, a third story addition will be built above the existing structure. The project will contain an even split of one- and two-bedroom units.

The developer Anthony Ruscito expects construction to being in the spring of 2015. The project was designed by Roche-Christopher Architects.

About the Boston Redevelopment Authority

As the City of Boston’s urban planning and economic development agency, the BRA works in partnership with the community to plan Boston's future while respecting its past. The agency’s passionate and knowledgeable staff guides physical, social, and economic change in Boston’s neighborhoods and its downtown to shape a more prosperous, sustainable, and beautiful city for all. The BRA also prepares residents for new opportunities through employment training, human services and job creation. Learn more at www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org, and follow us on Twitter @BostonRedevelop.

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES NEW FUNDING TO CREATE OVER 235 UNITS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES NEW FUNDING TO CREATE OVER 235 UNITS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING 
New Supportive Housing Units Bring Total Number Over 3,000, Tripling Governor Patrick’s Initial 1,000-Unit Goal

BOSTON– Friday, December 19, 2014 –Department of Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein today announced more than $15 million in funding to create over 235 new units of supportive housing for veterans, homeless and very low income households across the Commonwealth. With these new units, the Patrick Administration has funded a total of 3,065 supportive housing units, tripling the amount of Governor Deval Patrick’s goal a year early. 

“Governor Patrick has made permanent supportive housing a high priority because it is a key part of the solution to reducing homelessness over the long-term.  By providing a range of support services--which may include workforce development, education, child care, or mental health services-- our local non-profit partners can help to ensure a successful and sustainable tenancy.”

In December 2012, Governor Patrick announced a goal of creating 1,000 new units of supportive housing across the Commonwealth by December 2015. To reach this goal, 18 state agencies signed a memorandum of understanding partnering to improve existing processes, make recommendations for new, collaborative efforts and develop a long-range action plan to meet the need for supportive housing among the Commonwealth’s residents. The creation of the Commonwealth’s Interagency Supportive Housing Steering Committee and Working Group, co-chaired by the Secretaries of Housing and Economic Development and Health and Human Services, has played a critical role in helping Massachusetts reach this goal, and recently released a report celebrating this achievement.  

Supportive housing helps individuals and families that are homeless or facing homelessness, institutionalized or at-risk of institutionalization, people with disabilities and the elderly. Additionally, the agencies continue to assess the extent of public cost-savings generated as a result of providing permanent supportive housing and will recommend strategic reinvestments.

In addition to a providing housing for families, supportive housing, which is operated in conjunction with a network of non-profit agencies across the Commonwealth, can include services such as childcare, access to job training, mental-health care and other opportunities that give participants a hand up towards stability and success.

Alongside these new supportive housing units, the Patrick Administration also awarded 149 project-based vouchers from the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP). The vouchers are available to owners of existing, affordable rental properties, who provide services or partner with an agency that has experience with successfully stabilizing homeless or very low-income households.

The MRVP vouchers allow homeless families to move into existing housing developments with long-term affordability restrictions. The non-profit agencies that own the properties provide participating families with comprehensive supportive service programs to help ensure that they do not fall back into the cycle of homelessness and emergency shelter, while helping them move toward stability and self-sufficiency. Funds for supportive services in the amount of $2,500 per unit will be used to provide a wide array of services, including job search and training, financial literacy and planning, self-sufficiency training and coaching, counseling, parenting, early education and childcare, mental health and addiction treatment, adult education, and GED and skills training.

“The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has recognized the importance of creating quality supportive housing for communities in need and has been pro-active in creating an active pipeline for these projects,” said Roger Herzog, executive director of the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC). “The awards that have been granted today will make sure that both much-needed housing and services are available to homeless families and individuals, persons with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and youth, among others.”

Earlier this month, Governor Patrick announced the launch of a Massachusetts Pay for Success (PFS) initiative that will leverage philanthropic and private capital investments to reduce chronic individual homelessness, creating a new model of sustainable state support for chronically homeless individuals. The initiative will provide 500 units of stable supportive housing for up to 800 chronically homeless individuals over 6 years, improving the well-being of individuals while saving taxpayer dollars by reducing the utilization of costly emergency resources like shelter and Medicaid payments. 

In addition, DHCD has been committed to providing supportive housing for the Commonwealth’s veterans. The Department has awarded funds to produce 370 new units of affordable housing for low income veterans since the release 2013, exceeding the Patrick Administration’s three-year goal of 250 units.

The Patrick Administration continues to focus its efforts and resources on homelessness prevention and permanent housing to reduce the number of families living in hotels and at the same time to maintain one of the strongest safety nets in the country.

The following projects were announced today:

Harborlight House, Beverly

Harborlight House in Beverly is a supportive housing project serving frail low-income seniors who need various services in order to live with some degree of independence.  The sponsor is an experienced non-profit, Harborlight Community Partners. When rehabilitation is finished, the project will house 30 seniors in a prime Beverly location.

Residences Betances, Boston

Residences Betances is located in the South End of Boston.  Sponsored by the non-profit Inquilinos Boricuas En Accion (IBA), the project will house extremely low-income individuals with developmental challenges and diagnosed mental illness. The residents of the completed property will receive numerous services tailored to their individual needs. The completed property will feature four studios and seven single rooms.

Howard House, Brockton

Howard House in Brockton is a historic rehabilitation project that will offer 14 units of permanent supportive housing for homeless veterans on the site of the Brockton VA Medical Center. The sponsor is a joint venture including Peabody Properties, Windover Development and Father Bill’s Mainspring. The project will receive extensive support from the federal Veterans Administration, as well as from the state. The homeless veterans who become Howard House residents will be offered numerous services tailored to fit their needs.

O’Connor Sisson, Dartmouth

O’Connor Sisson in Dartmouth is a rehabilitation project intended to serve homeless veterans in need of support services. The sponsor is the Dartmouth Housing Authority. The completed project will offer nine efficiency units for extremely low income veterans, who will receive extensive services such as employment counseling, financial planning and therapeutic counseling.  In addition to state subsidies, the project will receive Community Preservation Act funds from the Town of Dartmouth.

4 Leighton Street, Fitchburg

4 Leighton Street in Fitchburg is a project that will provide 15 units of supportive housing for extremely low-income individuals, including individuals making the transition from homelessness. The experienced sponsor is the non-profit Twin Cities CDC. The completed project will offer extensive services to the new residents, including services to help residents maintain sobriety.

Harvard Elms, Harvard

Harvard Elms in Harvard is a new construction project intended to serve low and extremely low-income families, some of whom will participate in DHCD’s supportive housing initiative and will receive support services. The sponsor is the experienced non‑profit CHOICE, based in Chelmsford. The project has been permitted locally through Chapter 40B. When completed, Harvard Elms will offer nine affordable units, including supportive housing units for families making the transition from homelessness.

20 Willis Street, New Bedford

20 Willis Street in New Bedford is a project intended to serve homeless veterans. The sponsor is the non-profit Southern Massachusetts Veterans Housing Program. When completed, Willis Street will offer 40 units of single-room supportive housing for homeless veterans, as well as community space, a kitchen and dining room, and service space. Extensive services will be available to the veterans who become Willis Street residents.

St. Mary’s, Boston

St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children is developing a 12-unit transitional housing program for pregnant and parenting young adults. Priority will be given to homeless families who face numerous obstacles to independent living. A full –time support service coordinator will help  identify the services most needed by each young family. 

Gifford Street, Falmouth

The Falmouth Housing Corporation will add support services for three homeless families to the Gifford Street project with funding from the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP). Supportive services will be provided by the Falmouth Housing Authority’s existing housing stabilization program. Specific services will include transition counseling, job placement assistance and direct case management. 

Columbia Park, Haverhill

Emmaus Inc. will create 16 units of permanent, supportive housing for homeless families currently residing in emergency shelters/motels. Fourteen units will be located at Columbia Park Apartments in Haverhill, a 32-unit complex that Emmaus has owned since 1992. Two units will be sited in a two family house, also in Haverhill. Services will be provided through an expansion of Emmaus’ existing supportive housing program. 

Redfield, Pittsfield  

The Berkshire Fund in Western Massachusetts will use the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund to provide MRVP subsidy and support services for four units of existing housing within a 23-unit supportive housing program serving high risk pregnant and parenting young adults. Families served by the program will receive specialized support services designed to help them become responsible tenants, self-sufficient and committed members of the community.  

Harbor and Lafayette Homes, Salem

Sponsored by the North Shore Community Development Corporation, Harbor and Lafayette Homes will preserve two existing single room occupancy properties in Salem’s historic Point Neighborhood as 26 service-enriched, affordable apartments for low-income individuals, and one apartment for a resident manager. The 16 service-enhanced MRVP subsidies will serve extremely-low-income youth aging out of the foster care system. These tenants will receive a comprehensive package of supportive services from North Shore CDC.  

Bixby Road, Spencer

This project will incorporate 11 supportive housing units within a 42-unit townhouse style family development in Spencer. The supportive housing units will be designed and structured for formerly homeless occupants who face particular life challenges, such as a chronic physical illness or disability, and who need support services. The services will be provided through a tenant supportive services program operated by the project sponsor, South Middlesex Opportunity Council. 

Kenwyn and Quadrangle, Springfield 

HAP Housing in Springfield will use eight Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund service-enhanced MRVP subsidies to assist homeless families as they transition from shelters, such as  HAP’s Residential Resource Center, a temporary housing facility that provides shelter for 36 families. The MRVP subsidies will allow families to move into permanent rental housing at either Kenwyn or Quadrangle Court, and the support service dollars will permit the continuation of service delivery to the families in their new location. Services will include parenting classes, domestic violence counseling and financial education seminars. 

E. Henry Twiggs Estates, Phase I, Springfield 

Better Homes, Inc. is working on a plan to support the comprehensive redevelopment of 75 scattered site units in the Bay and Upper Hill neighborhoods of Springfield. As an integral part of the first phase of the project, Better Homes will convert 13 affordable rental units into permanent supportive housing for low income families. Services will be provided through an expansion of Better Home’s existing supportive housing partnership with HAP Housing, also of Springfield. 

Bunker Hill Community College Student Places First in National Math Competition

Bunker Hill Community College Student Places First in National Math Competition

BOSTON, December 19, 2014—BHCC honors student Minwoo Yoo placed first in the nation in Round I of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges Student Math League competition. Competing on the precalculus test against students from 187 community colleges, Yoo earned a perfect score. “I’m confident he’ll win Round II,” said Yoo’s mentor Elhoussine Ghardi, Assistant Professor, Mathematics Department. Round II is scheduled for February 13 to March 7, 2015.

The competition is given annually in two rounds—one each during the fall and spring semesters. The test questions, which are on the precalculus level, are nonstandard, difficult questions which are not typically posed in such classes, according to Student Math League Coordinator Susan Strickland. The highest scoring eligible participant for both rounds combined is awarded a $3,000 scholarship. “Minwoo's score is impressive,” said Strickland. “He was the only one to get a perfect score of 40 points.”

Yoo chose to participate because, as he said, “Students who [have] succeeded in transferring to MIT or Caltech from a community college participated in the competition and made it to the individual top 10 list.” He plans to transfer to a four-year school Fall 2015 and major in computer science. Yoo’s top choices are Brown, Cornell, Harvard and MIT.