MAYOR WALSH RELEASES REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, SEEKING CONCEPTS FOR CO-DEVELOPING CITY ASSETS WITH HOUSING AND OTHER MIXED-USES

MAYOR WALSH RELEASES REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, SEEKING CONCEPTS FOR CO-DEVELOPING CITY ASSETS WITH HOUSING AND OTHER MIXED-USES

BOSTON - Friday, February 2, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the City of Boston is seeking innovative ideas about how the City could potentially utilize its capital assets to spur the development of additional housing for Boston residents, while improving the infrastructure conditions of City buildings through redevelopment. In a Request for Information released today, Boston will measure interest in the mixed-use redevelopment of assets such as community centers, libraries and fire stations. The goal of the RFI is to determine whether this type of development is right for Boston, while identifying how it could be pursued in the future. "With the right projects and partnerships in place, we believe this model could have the potential to enhance City property by improving our infrastructure and generating new affordable housing options needed in neighborhoods throughout our city," said Mayor Walsh. "I look forward to seeing the ideas that could help us reimagine the future of our civic spaces to maximize the public benefit." Cities around the country, including Chicago, San Francisco, New York City and Washington, DC, have built affordable and market-rate housing alongside and on top of city assets such as libraries and transit stations. These cities consider this work a critical part of creating more public value with public assets. "In Washington, DC we are committed to building and preserving neighborhoods that residents can both afford and enjoy, and we're doing this through the creation of public-private partnerships that deliver housing, job opportunities, and community benefits. Recently, we cut the ribbon on a new library that is part of a development that includes a firehouse, retail, and affordable housing; for residents, this means a lot of resources in one location. We look forward to collaborating with Boston as we both work to build safer, stronger communities and put more residents on pathways to the middle class," said Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.   "As a community-based non-profit in a neighborhood where countless families have been displaced by skyrocketing housing costs, JPNDC has found City land and resources to be instrumental to our efforts to create new affordable homes," said Leslie Boss, Director of Real Estate at the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corp. "The Housing Innovation Lab's concept is intriguing, as it offers the dual benefit of supporting affordable housing development and improving facilities and services that are critical to the safety and quality of life for the entire community. We are excited to see the City continuing to explore creative new approaches."   Boston owns hundreds buildings that could be candidates for these types of development. A preliminary list of these assets is available in the Request for Information for potential respondents to review. The City's primary interest is in proposals that identify how city assets currently used for core city services, such as libraries, fire stations, police stations, and community centers can be combined with housing. "As a convener of Boston's design and development community, we are happy to see the City explore how innovative design, adaptive reuse, and co-location can help address Boston's housing needs," said Jay Wickersham, FAIA, Board Chair of the Boston Society of Architects. "We commend the Walsh Administration for taking this thoughtful step." A Request for Information is a call for input, which allows the city to explore new ideas. It does not replace or interrupt the normal community process. If the City chooses to pursue any specific development ideas, the development will undergo a full community process, engaging local residents and community members before any potential redevelopment takes place. All submissions are expected to outline how potential development will remain contextual to the city and the neighborhood. The City's nationally-recognized Housing Innovation Lab (iLAB), part of the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics and the Department of Neighborhood Development, is leading this RFI. The iLAB is transforming how Boston designs, develops and funds housing, and has been creating housing solutions in collaboration with many diverse constituencies at the City, in our communities, and across industries. The Walsh Administration continues to be a leader in ambitious and innovative work to build, sustain, and promote affordable housing for its Boston residents. Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030 is the Walsh Administration's comprehensive housing plan. Under this plan, Boston will create 53,000 new units of housing at a variety of income levels throughout Boston, including 44,000 units of housing for the workforce; 5,000 units of housing for senior citizens; and 4,000 units to stabilize the market and bring rents and housing prices under control. During his second inaugural address in January, Mayor Walsh also pledged to increase Boston's targets for low-income homes, moderate-income homes, senior housing, and overall units. Since the 2014 implementation of Housing a Changing City, 13,551 new units of housing have been completed. With an additional 8,412 units currently under construction, the City has secured housing for an estimated 25,000 residents, making significant progress in meeting Boston's rapid population growth. The City remains on target to meet the production goals. To date, the Walsh Administration has committed more than $100 million in funding to the creation and preservation of affordable housing. The City will accept submissions through March 23, 2018; respondents' questions may be submitted to margo.cramer@boston.gov by February 12, 2018. An applicant conference will be held on February 15, 2018 at 26 Court Street, Boston. Responses to this Request for Information will not result in any development agreements or site-specific plans. Additional information is available on the Housing Innovation Lab Request for Information webpage. About Imagine Boston 2030 Shaped by more than 15,000 resident voices, Imagine Boston 2030 is the first citywide plan since 1965. Mayor Walsh released the plan in July of 2017. The final plan can be downloaded at https://imagine.boston.gov/ and can be found at all branches of the Boston Public Library. About the Housing Innovation Lab The Mayor's Housing Innovation Lab was facilitated by a collaboration between the Department of Neighborhood Development and the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM). The Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics serves as Mayor Walsh's civic innovation group. A City agency that was formed in 2010, New Urban Mechanics pilots experiments that offer the potential to improve the quality of life for Boston residents. The Housing Innovation Lab focuses their work on reducing the cost of housing. To learn more about MONUM, follow the office on Twitter or visit their website. To learn more about the Housing Innovation Lab, follow the office on Twitter or visit their website.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES 2018 CITY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE TO BOSTON RESIDENTS

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES 2018 CITY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE TO BOSTON RESIDENTS

BOSTON - Friday, February 2, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced applications are now available for the 2018 City of Boston Scholarships. The City of Boston Scholarship program is designed to support higher education, and is available to Boston residents interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree or continuing education in Massachusetts. "The City of Boston Scholarship Fund helps turn our residents' dreams of completing their post-secondary education into reality," said Mayor Walsh. "Giving our residents a helping hand in pursuing their degree is a wonderful investment in Boston's future. I look forward to receiving many applications from talented students throughout Boston's neighborhoods, and providing scholarships to our new class of Boston scholars." The City of Boston Scholarship fund is a need-based scholarship that provides up to $10,000 over four years towards tuition, and relies primarily on generous contributions from individuals, organizations and corporations to further the goal of having more Boston residents complete a post-secondary education. During the 2017-2018 academic year, the scholarship program awarded a total of $275,000 to over 100 students representing almost every neighborhood of Boston, over 25 local high schools and 30 local colleges and universities. This year, the Scholarship Committee worked to simplify and strengthen the application process. Highlights include a new recommendation form that assesses college and career readiness, three short-answer questions in place of a longer essay, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculator for students not eligible for FAFSA, and a clear recognition of financial need among continuing education students. The City of Boston Scholarship program is part of Mayor Walsh's commitment to ensuring access to higher education is available for all in Boston. In 2016, Mayor Walsh launched tuition-free community college for Boston Public Schools graduates, providing a cost-effective entry point into higher education for Boston's young people. Participating colleges include Bunker Hill Community College, MassBay Community College, and Roxbury Community College. The City of Boston offers many other resources for residents pursuing higher education. On the Mayor's Education Cabinet's Higher Education Resource page, residents can now find the resources most appropriate for their educational goals in one place, including the Tuition-Free Community College program, The Boston Bridge and an inventory of local scholarships. "The cost of college tuition has increased by 45 percent in the last decade -- a price rising faster than nearly any other good or service in America," said Boston Chief of Education Turahn Dorsey. "Over the coming year, the Mayor's Education Cabinet and the City's Scholarship Committee will work with local students, educators, higher education officials, and college access experts to identify ways to to ensure that all Boston students find an affordable way to access, and complete, a postsecondary education." Candidates for City of Boston scholarships must be Boston residents who have graduated from high school or have completed G.E.D. programming by the time the awards are made. Additionally, candidates must be planning to attend, or currently attending, a two- or four-year accredited post-secondary institution in Massachusetts. Residents who meet these eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply here. The deadline to submit applications for incoming freshmen is April 13, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. For applicants who are renewing their scholarship from a previous year, please email COBscholarship@boston.gov. For more information on the City of Boston Scholarship, visit boston.gov

波市公衛局撥款5萬餘資助17家修甲沙龍改良通風

BPHC Awards Funds to Nail Salons to Improve Ventilation

Funds awarded will assist salons in building ventilation systems compliant with the BPHC Nail Salon Regulation

BOSTON - Friday, February 2, 2018 - The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) today announced it has awarded $51,000 in financial assistance to 17 nail salons in Boston. The salons will receive $3,000 each to cover some of the costs of installing upgraded ventilation required by the BPHC Nail Salon Regulation to protect their workers and customers from chemicals commonly found in nail products.    "At Boston Public Health Commission, we are committed to creating healthy work environments that better protect their employees and customers from chemical exposure," said BPHC Executive Director, Monica Valdes Lupi, JD, MPH. "Extended exposure to the more harmful chemicals contained in nail salon products can be a serious health danger and we are delighted to be able to financially support salon owners who are already working to install upgraded ventilation systems in their locations."   Complying with the ventilation requirements is important to protect salon workers and customers from harmful chemicals contained in nail salon products like nail polish (regular, gel, acrylic, and powder dip) and nail polish remover. Particularly for employees, exposure to these chemicals is associated with poor health outcomes like certain cancers, reproductive effects, asthma, skin sensitivity and damage, and neurological damage.    The review team ranked the salons that did not receive funding in priority order should additional resources become available. The 17 recipients of the funds are: Brighton Nails, Brighton Bromfield Nails, Downtown Daisy's Nail, Dorchester Egleston Nails, Roxbury Glitter Nail, Charlestown House of Nails, East Boston Lee's Nails, Dorchester Lisa Nail Salon, South Boston Lovely Nails and Waxing, Roslindale Lynn Spa, Dorchester Nail Spa By Time, Mission Hill Rainbow Nails Spa, Roxbury Roxy Nails, Roslindale Salon V, West Roxbury Secrets Spa and Nail Salon, North End Sky Nail & Spa, South Boston YES Nails, Brighton The BPHC Nail Salon Regulation requires that all nail salons permitted by BPHC before October 2013 comply with the ventilation requirements by October 2018. Salons that apply for their first permit after October 2013 must comply with the ventilation requirements before they can receive their permit to operate. The International Mechanical Code (IMC), as incorporated into the Massachusetts Building Code, indicates that all nail salons should have a mechanical ventilation system that includes: Minimum amounts of fresh outdoor air and mechanical exhaust that does not recirculate any air back into the salon or other spaces in the building Source capture ventilation that pulls air directly from the point of service at the manicure table or pedicure chair into the exhaust system Exhaust and supply air produced at specific rates, based on the size of the salon  The 17 awardees were selected among 50 applicants through an extensive and competitive review process. The review team evaluated each application on several criteria including the salon's readiness and planning for the installation of ventilation, the salon's permit and enforcement history with BPHC, the type of building in which the salon is located, the number of employees and customer capacity of the salon, and whether the salon participates in the BPHC's Green & Clean Program.   This is the second round of funding that has been awarded to Boston's nail salons to support compliance with the ventilation requirements. BPHC previously awarded a total of $18,000 to six nail salons to help them build compliant ventilation systems. An additional $10,000 was awarded to ten salons to help them take the first step towards compliance - hiring an engineer to design their ventilation system.   This funding is being administered by the BPHC's Safe Shops Program, which was launched 13 years ago to serve auto shops, and which expanded to serve nail salons in 2007 and hair salons in 2016. The Safe Shops Program provides technical assistance and training to small businesses, to help them comply with regulatory requirements and adopt safer work practices. For more information, please visit www.bphc.org/safenails.

波士頓京津500同鄉慶新春 狗年祝大旺

波士頓京津同鄉慶春晚謝幕。(北京同鄉會提供)

 (Boston Orange 周菊子勒星頓鎮報導) 波士頓京津同鄉晚會1月27日晚在勒星頓鎮基督教學校匯聚了500多名北京，天津同鄉，在寒暄問暖，吃得口舌留香之餘，瀏覽機構、贊助商攤位，欣賞18個精彩節目，在紐英崙率先迎接旺旺狗年。

北京同鄉會會長趙進(左)歡迎中國領事館領事王軍(右)。(周菊子攝)

新增說明文字

波士頓北京同鄉會創立於2003年，起初只有幾十名彼此熟識的老鄉同聚，但一年年下來，在老鄉們口耳相傳，來到大波士頓的華人近年暴增下，位於華森市的劍橋中國文化中心已經裝不下聞風而來的老鄉們了，2017年首度外移到勒星頓鎮的民兵學校舉行，今年再換到有更多不同空間的勒星頓鎮基督教學校。勒星頓鎮警察對京津同鄉會的號召力也是有了經驗，竟然在學校門外的大老遠，就佈署了人員指揮交通，還沿著主要通道兩旁，放置了安全筒，既是無語說明主要通道不准停車，也儼然壯觀的歡迎隊伍，迎接出席的京津鄉親。

北京同鄉會會長趙進，天津老鄉聯繫人劉希純，北京同鄉會微信群群主李會銘，萬家網共同創辦人施志敏等人早就為邀請贊助商，安排餐點，聯絡義工等等忙翻了天，但仍週到的利用微信群，為幾乎每一個贊助商都做了個別專題報導，聊以回饋，讓贊助商們除了”露臉”打知名度之外，更被人深入了解。

北京同鄉會支援燒傷兒童來波士頓就醫。

當晚劉中策劃，指導的18個表演節目，更是亮點。主持人有李照原，郭旭，劉希純，謝云哲，節目從闕惠指導，舞悅團演出的蒙古群舞”草原的月亮”拉開序幕，有男女聲獨唱，寧可、李紹平的相聲”狗年旺旺”，首次登台亮相的波士頓拾音社詩朗誦”父母之河”，郭俐媛、武元杰母子檔合作演出的京劇”赤桑鎮”選段”見包拯怒火滿胸膛”，孫天霄、亢靜的小品”白宮新聞發佈會”，武術冠軍陳笑儀，王健豪的武術表演，精彩空巢父母及國際少兒模特大賽波士頓賽區優勝者的時裝秀等，各式節目俱全。

王慶(左三)在演唱前和老鄉同聚。(周菊子攝)

舞蹈該算是節目中最多的一種表演，雲集了大量的專業演員及教師參加，獨舞，群舞，民族舞，現代舞，傳統舞，西班牙舞等各類型的舞都有，更讓出席者見識到大波士頓內的華人舞蹈團體，真是有如雨後春筍。這天在會上表演的就有舞悅團，華誼集體舞隊，粉墨東方藝術團，牛頓中文學校兒童民族舞蹈班。還有劉中所指導，由3名美國專業芭蕾舞演員、教師演出的傣族舞”邵多麗”，蔡君揉和Mina Liang依序獨舞，表演現代中國舞”舞墨”，西班牙舞。

歌喉好又愛唱的王慶，孫京，李引，鍾瑜組成”波士頓陽光組合”的男聲四重唱”海港之夜”，和科班出身的胡凡一曲”酒矸倘賣无”，劉中及馬永編排的壓軸表演"蝴蝶"，都大獲好評。

新增說明文字

來到大波士頓開店，賣天津狗不理包子的孟強等許多京津老鄉都說，一年一度這樣的大團圓，嚐家鄉口味，一次見那麼多的老鄉，感覺很溫暖。

部分負責分菜的工作人員和到會嘉賓合影。(周菊子攝)

北京同鄉會會長趙進表示，今年還有一個學生創辦，要培養公民責任，利他主義觀念的非牟利組織”學生團(Student Corps)。該團代表，六年級小朋友Melinda Yu在舞台上介紹，包括學生和家長，他們共有26名義工在籌款幫助中國到波士頓治療的貧困兒童支付生活費，往返費用。當天他們也邀請了好幾名來波士頓治燒傷的小朋友出席，讓他們在異鄉過春節，也一樣溫暖。

北京同鄉會和部分贊助商合影。

波士頓華埠圖書館2/3剪綵

Mayor Martin J. Walsh cordially invites you to a ribbon cutting for Boston Public Library’s newest location in Chinatown. Boston Public Library Chinatown Ribbon Cutting LOCATION  2 Boylston Street, China Trade Building DATE AND TIME 02/03/18 11:00am - 02/03/18 12:00pm Join us to celebrate the return of library service to the Chinatown neighborhood. I'll be there! Maybe

波士頓開始提供2018報稅援助

MAYOR WALSH AND BOSTON TAX HELP COALITION KICK OFF 2018 SEASON OF FREE TAX PREPARATION FOR RESIDENTS

BOSTON - Thursday, February 1, 2018 -  Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined the Boston Tax Help Coalition and other community partners at Dorchester's Codman Square Health Center to highlight the free tax preparation services available to low- and moderate-income Boston residents. The Coalition provides free tax preparation services at 35 partner locations throughout the City to help residents who earn $54,000 or less per year maximize the Earned Income Tax Credit and claim the full refunds they are due. "The free tax services offered throughout the City of Boston will help our residents gain financial security, an important step towards providing more opportunities to succeed," said Mayor Walsh. "I thank our dedicated volunteers who make these efforts possible, and encourage the thousands of residents who are eligible for these services to take advantage of them."     Last year, the Coalition served more than 13,000 taxpayers and returned $26.8 million dollars in refunds and credits directly to taxpayers. More than 400 volunteers contributed to the effort. 2018 marks the seventeenth year that the Boston Tax Help Coalition has provided free tax preparation for Boston residents. "My parents, like most immigrants to the United States, just wanted to work hard to provide a better life for their children," said Suilisa, 21, a Dorchester resident who is now a volunteer interpreter for the Coalition. "The Boston Tax Help Coalition gave me and my family the help we needed. It is possible to get your taxes done for free. It is possible to save. It is absolutely okay to ask for help when you need it." In addition to tax preparation services, the Coalition also offers Financial Check-Ups at 12 tax sites. A Financial Check-Up is a one-on-one session in which a taxpayer can review his or her credit score and obtain personalized credit-building strategies from a trained financial guide. This process is a key component of Boston Builds Credit, the City's new, free credit building program which helps residents improve their credit and move towards long-term financial resilience. New this year, the Coalition will also introduce taxpayers to Bank On Boston, a recently launched initiative that connects residents with banking accounts and financial services that are safe, affordable, and non-predatory. Taxpayers will be able to open Bank On accounts at their tax sites with the help of such key financial partners as the City of Boston Credit Union, Santander Bank, Bank of America, and Citizens Bank. "We are so proud of our long years of partnership with the Boston Tax Help Coalition and are delighted to host the launch of their newest season of free services," said Sandra Cotterell, CEO of Codman Square Health Center. "Our organization is committed to serving one of Boston's largest and most vulnerable communities with affordable, quality healthcare that cares for the whole person. As an essential part of that holistic approach, our free tax clinic each year returns millions of dollars into our community and serves to improve our patients' and neighbors' overall well-being." Daniel Waltz, CEO of the City of Boston Credit Union, and John Drew, CEO of Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), key Coalition partners, also spoke at today's celebration. They were joined by representatives from Codman Square Health Center, one of the Coalition's busiest and longest-serving tax sites, as well as taxpayers who benefit from the services there. The Office of Financial Empowerment is an affiliate of the Boston Planning & Development Agency.

波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪拜會羅州副州長促進雙邊交流

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪，雲雯蓁夫婦拜會
羅德島州副州長Daniel J. McKee。

波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處賴處長銘琪夫婦偕洪副組長麗玲1月31赴羅州首府欖城(Providence)拜會副州長麥丹尼 (Daniel J. McKee)，代表中華民國（臺灣）政府及人民促請羅州加強與臺灣之多面向合作交流。

        麥丹尼副州長對賴處長來訪表示熱誠歡迎，麥副州長對上（2017）年10月應邀率團訪臺參加國慶活動表達感謝，對我政府精心安排之行程讚不絕口，對我政經發展亦至為推崇，並肯定我與該州在政、經、文化等關係緊密，對全面提升我與羅州之合作抱持期待。另對吸引臺商到羅州投資、推廣雙方的高等教育交流表示高度興趣。賴處長表示羅州擁有極佳的投資環境及教育人才，從羅州首府欖城到麻州首府波士頓不僅交通便利，且擁有全美密度最高的大學院校及研究機構，樂於代為引介臺商來羅州投資及進行高等教育交流，雙方晤談30分鐘，互贈禮品後結束拜會。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪，雲雯蓁夫婦和
羅州檢察長Peter Kilmartin(右一)等人合影。

        臺灣與美國經貿往來密切，2016年雙邊經貿往來達650億美元，臺灣為美國第十大貿易夥伴，對美國農產品之人均消費力為全球第二大；就雙邊投資而言，美國是臺灣最大外資來源，而臺灣在美國的投資與貿易亦為美國創造超過32萬個工作機會，緊密合作可見一斑。臺灣與羅州實質關係密切，羅德島州重要產業包含珠寶製造業（有「世界珠寶之都」美名）、旅遊及醫療服務業。2016年對臺灣出口金額為1億1百11萬美元，較2015年成長155.82%，主要輸臺產品包括初級金屬產品、金屬焊接產品、化學製品、機械產品、石化產品、電機產品及塑橡膠製品等。2016年羅州自臺灣進口約4,000萬美元，臺灣為羅州第5大（亞洲第2大）出口市場，第20大進口來源。

        賴處長此行另出席本（2018）年第19屆龍舟賽暨臺灣日第1次籌備會議，及拜會羅州檢察長Peter Kilmartin、眾議會代議長Brian Kennedy、健康教育及福利委員會主席Joseph McNamara、參議會商務委員會主席Roger Picard及聯邦眾議員David Cicilline（D-RI）之選區主任Christopher Bizzacco等人，代表我政府及人民感謝羅州議會多年來通過各項友我決議，及促進臺灣與羅州雙邊合作機會，此外並推薦商機及歡迎羅州各界前往臺灣觀光旅遊。(波士頓經文處提供)

MAYOR WALSH LEADS 38TH ANNUAL HOMELESS CENSUS

MAYOR WALSH LEADS 38TH ANNUAL HOMELESS CENSUS

Yearly count of Boston's homeless helps focus City housing efforts

BOSTON - Thursday, February 1, 2018 - As part of Boston's efforts to end chronic and veteran homelessness, on Wednesday night Mayor Martin J. Walsh led a group of 300 volunteers, including City of Boston cabinet and department heads, State officials, homeless service providers, and community, civic and faith leaders in the City of Boston's 38th annual Homeless Census. This yearly count of individuals living on the street is part of a larger census of homeless adults and families in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and domestic violence programs. In 2017, Boston was identified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the city with the lowest percentage of unsheltered people living on the street of any city conducting a census. In 2017, only three percent of Boston's homeless population was sleeping on the street. The annual homeless census is required by HUD as a key component of Boston's $26 million funding grant. "The Annual Homeless Census helps us understand the needs of people in our neighborhoods and the scope of homelessness in our City," said Mayor Walsh. "But it's about much more than that. It's a Boston tradition. It's about the spirit of community. It's about the values we share, as a city that looks out for one another as neighbors. Every single person deserves security, dignity, and hope. Every single person deserves a place to call home." Census volunteers canvassed 45 areas covering every city neighborhood, Logan Airport, and the transit and parks systems, identifying those sleeping on the street and conducting a short survey. The resulting surveys are closely analyzed to ensure accuracy, and are crosschecked and combined with the results of the simultaneous shelter count that occurs on the same night. In 2017, data was analyzed from 48 programs that serve homeless individuals and 24 programs that serve families. Results of the homeless census form the basis for Boston's Way Home, the City's plan to end veteran and chronic homelessness. The plan, launched in 2015, has dramatically shifted the way Boston delivers services to people experiencing homelessness. The new plan puts housing first, while increasing resources devoted to housing people experiencing homelessness and deploying new technologies to match them with housing and services. For the first time ever, this year's homelessness census engaged Boston's Way Home's Consumer Advisory Council and Youth Action Board. These two boards were convened to offer the City and its partners the critical perspective of those who have experienced homelessness as the City continues to implement its plans to end veteran and chronic homelessness. The Consumer Advisory Council, known as BACHome, is made up of 13 people who have committed to sharing their insight with City officials; all members of the board have experienced sustained homelessness in the City of Boston. The Board meets every two weeks, with regular meetings attended by representatives from the City of Boston.  Approximately one half of the council is currently unhoused, while one quarter is newly housed. Another quarter of the members are more deeply settled into permanent housing. "I see membership on the Council of BACHome as an opportunity to make a change for the better and to do what we can," said Council member Mark St. John. "We can reduce homelessness in Boston, and make the systems that support homeless people more efficient and compassionate. I feel that I make a difference by being on BACHome -- it is an honor. Everything we discuss is positive and it helps us move in the right direction." Members of the Council served as greeters at the homeless census and joined several of the teams that went on the census, while artwork created by Youth Action Board members was on display at City Hall where volunteers gathered.   The City's Youth Action Board was convened to offer the City the unique perspective of youth and young adults who have experienced homelessness, as the City embarks on its work to end youth and young adult homelessness. While a number of City and State agencies and community organizations work with youth and young adults who experience homelessness in Boston, these services, interventions and resources are often not designed for the unique developmental needs of youth and young adults. In October, the City announced that it will be gathering data on youth who experience homelessness in Boston, understanding the current system's capacity, identifying the unmet needs of youth and young adults, and designing a plan to address gaps in emergency assistance system. In addition, since the launch of Boston's Way Home: Boston has ended chronic veteran homelessness.  At the time that Mayor Walsh launched his plan to end veteran homelessness, there were 414 homeless veterans in Boston. Since then, 876 homeless veterans -- more than twice that number -- have been housed. Since the launch of the plan, 443 chronically homeless individuals have been housed. This represents more than 3,000 combined years of homelessness ended. In his 2018 inaugural address, Mayor Walsh announced the launch of the Boston's Way Home Fund in partnership with Pine Street Inn and Bank of America. The Fund aims to support the creation of 200 new units of permanent supportive housing. To date, the City has increased the amount of permanent supportive housing targeted for chronically homeless individuals by 100 units and vouchers since January 2016. City investments in homelessness have increased by more than $1 million annually for Front Door Triage and Rapid Rehousing, programs that begin to connect homeless individuals to housing and services as soon as they enter shelter. Boston has piloted the concept of housing surges. These events bring a vast array of resources under one roof, in order to connect homeless individuals with housing and services. Housing surges not only provide information, but also enroll individuals in supportive service programs and make housing offers on-site. Attendees may leave with an address and support services the very same day. To date, the city has hosted eight surges, through which 225 people have been housed. In July 2016, working with the State, the City began hosting housing surges for elders that offered housing and integrated care together for the first time. More than 135 chronically homeless elders have attended these surges to date; nearly all of these elders have been linked with housing and services.