Harbor Homes MV ANNUAL REPORT 2022

Upper left photo credit: Mark Alan Lovewell/Vineyard Gazette

Bottom photo credit: Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette

Letter from the Board President

AsPresidentofHarborHomesofMartha’sVineyard,Iampleasedtoreportthat thispastyearhasbeenaperiodofpositivegrowthfortheorganization.Harbor HomeshasaddednewBoardmembers,enteredintonewpartnershipswith communityagenciesandbeenthefortunaterecipientofdonationsandgrantsthat havestrengtheneditsfinancialportfolio.Asoneoftheoriginalcoordinatorsof theIslandshelter,Ihavewitnessedthecontinuousinvestmentthecommunityhas madeinHarborHomestorespondtotheneedsofthehomeless.HarborHomes isnowinasolidpositiontoaddressthischallenge.

InclosingIwouldliketothankKarenTewhey,HarborHomesretiringExecutive Director,forhermanyyearsofunwaveringservicetotheorganizationthathas gottenustowherewearetodayandfurthertowelcomeournewExecutive DirectorSusanDiverio,whocomestousfromanotherisland,St.Croix,with manyyearsofvaluableadministrativeexperience,andwishhermuchsuccessin hernewpositionwithus.

Mission Statement Our Vision

ThemissionofHarborHomesofMartha’sVineyardistoensurethatlowincomeresidents,whoarehomelessorfacinghomelessness,haveaccesstosafe, sanitaryandsecurehousingsotheycanparticipateashealthyandproductive citizens.Wedothisbyprovidinghousingoptions,overnightshelter,referral andsupportservices,lifeskillseducation,andadvocacyforcollaborative, locallydrivensolutionsforindividualsandfamilies.

HarborHomesofMartha’sVineyardisa501(c)3nonprofitthatservesasthe umbrellaorganizationontheIslandforallhomelesspreventionprogramsand services.HarborHomeswasestablishedin2018throughacollaboration amongclergy,housingadvocates,andvolunteers.HarborHomesiscommitted todevelopingacontinuumofprogrammingthataddressestheuniqueneedsof lowincomeindividualsandfamilies.Thisincludesprovidingshelter, congregatehousing,hotelrespite,housingsearchand/orrentalassistance.

Experiencinghomelessnessisconsideredaserioustraumawithlonglasting effects-emotionally,physicallyandspiritually.Itstripsadultsoftheirsenseof dignityandrobsthemofhope.Individualswhohavenohomeaddressfeel disconnectedfromourcommunity.Beingrelegatedtosleepinasettingthatis “notmeantforhumanhabitation”isafrighteninganddegradingexperience. HarborHomeswillprovideIslanderswithsecurityandsupportsotheycan functionproductivelyasparents,employeesandneighbors.

Board of Directors

Edward(Peter)Vincent,President

ArmenHanjian,Vice-President

TimothyDelaney,Treasurer

DorieGodfrey,Secretary

BarbaraAlleyne

DoreenAnderson

CathlinBaker

DougBest

JenniferFrank

MarjorieMason

ShirleyRedd

DavidVigneault

Board Committees/Chairs

ExecutiveCommitteeChair-ArmenHanjian

Development&OutreachCommitteeChair-JenniferFrank

FacilitiesCommitteeChair-DougBest

FinanceCommitteeChair-TimothyDelaney

Policy,Procedures,GovernanceCommitteeChair-DorieGodfrey

Letter from the Executive Director

IthasbeenaprivilegetoengagewiththecommunityofMartha’sVineyard,its residents,seasonalvisitors,communityorganizations,townofficials,county manager,clergyandlocalbusinessestocreateahousingandsupportsystemfor ourmostvulnerableneighbors.HarborHomesofMartha’sVineyardhasevolved fromanambitiousconcepttofiveprogramsthatprovideshelter,congregate housing,hotelrespiteandcasemanagementforindividualsandfamilieswhoface homelessness.Donations,grantsandvolunteercontributionshavesupported HarborHomes’expansion.IamextremelygratefultotheHHBoardforthetime, thoughtfulnessandsupporttheyhaveprovidedtomeoverthepastyearandfor theuniqueopportunitytocontinuetohelpmovetheorganizationforwardinmy newrole.

Harbor Homes Staff

KarenTewhey,ExecutiveDirector,LisaBelcastro,ShelterCoordinator, StaffmemberRebeccaJamieson,MauraMorrison,HomelessPreventionCaseWorker andCaseManager,NewYorkAve.House

NEW LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

TheBoardhiredSueDiverio,asthenewExecutiveDirectorofHarborHomesofMV onJune21,2022.Sue,relocatingfromSt.Croix,VI,isaseasonedadministrator with36yearsofexperienceinteaching,training,supervision,andleadership.An effectivecommunicatorandskilledprogramdeveloper,Suewillfocuson administeringhigh-qualityprogramming.

TheformerPresidentandExecutiveDirector,KarenTewhey,transitionedintoanew positionasDirectorofInstitutionalAdvancementofHarborHomesofMartha’s VineyardinSeptember2022.Karenwillberesponsibleforresearchinghomeless preventionprogramming,developingnewproposals,andsecuringfundingsupport fromgrantsandfoundationstocontinuetogrowtheorganization.Sheisuniquely qualifiedforthispositionasshehelpedfoundandbuildHarborHomesandknowsits historyandachievements.

Photo Credit: Jeanna Shepard/Vineyard Gazette

Photo Credit: Kevin Hooks/Vineyard Gazette

Impact of Covid

COVIDarrivedinMarch2020andresultedintheabruptclosingofthewintershelterthatwasan Islandclergyvolunteerinitiative.IntheFallof2019,Martha’sVineyardHospitalprovidedHarbor HomesofMVwitha$150,000granttoreopenawintershelterduringthe2019/20season.In addition,BadMartha’sFarmer'sBrewerydonated$10,000topayforsheltermeals.Thefunding wascriticalasHarborHomesneededtorentafacility,hirestaffandensurethathealthandsafety standardsandpracticeswereinplace.

TheCOVIDpandemiccontinuedduring2021.Itpresenteduniquechallengestolow-income andhomelessindividualsandfamiliesonMartha’sVineyard.Residentsfounditincreasingly difficulttofindhousingasthenumberofrentalunitsdecreased,tosociallydistancein overcrowdedlivingspaces,andtostayhealthywhenforcedtoliveinsettingsthatwere“not meantforhumanhabitation.”

HarborHomesrespondedbyopeningupasecondcongregatehouseforwomenandexpanding itsemergencyshelteroptions.ThroughanewcollaborationwithMVCommunityServices (MVCS),HarborHomesofferedanightlywintershelterontheMVCScampus.Withfunding fromMartha’sVineyardHospital,HarborHomeswasabletohouseadultswhoweremedically fragileorsufferedfromaseriousmentalillness,aswellasafewfamilies. Throughanew collaborationwithMVCommunityServices(MVCS)andfundingfromMVBankCommunity Foundation,HarborHomesofferedanightlywintershelterontheMVCScampus.

Ourstaterepresentative,DylanFernandes,respondedtoourrequestforfundingduringthis difficulttimebysuccessfullyadvocatingfora$300,000AmericanRescuePlanAct(ARPA)grant tosupportwomenwhofacedhomelessnessontheVineyard.Wealsosawanincreaseinprivate donationsduringthistime.

Growth Through Collaboration

In2021,HarborHomesoperatedanumberofprogramsthatbenefitedfromtheinvaluable supportofourcommunitypartners. Theenormousgrowthofourorganizationwas,inpart, theresultofthefinancial,programmaticandtechnicalsupportwereceivedfromotherIsland organizationsthatsharedourmissiontohouseourneediestneighbors.

Photo Credit (bottom): Karen Tewhey by Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette

STRONG PARTNERS MAKE STRONG COMMUNITIES (IHT)

Building community through developing and creating affordable homesandapartmentsforyear-roundresidentsisthemissionofthe IslandHousingTrust(IHT).Tomeetthischallenge,partnershipsare critical.HarborHomesofMartha’sVineyardisoneofIHT’sfortunate partners.In2020,IHTprovidedfunding,financing,andtechnical assistance to Harbor Homes so it could purchase a property in VineyardHaventouseascongregatehousingformenwhowere homeless.IHTownsthelandoccupiedbythehouseandHarbor Homesownsthe6-bedroomhome.Thereisadeedrestrictiononthe propertysothatitremainsaffordablehousinginperpetuity.In2021, IHThelpedHarborHomesacquireapropertyinOakBluffsto establishahomeforwomenwhowerehomelessaswellasaspacefor HarborHomesadministrativeoffices.Thispartnershiphasproduced 12unitsofrentalhousingforthelowest-incomeresidentsofthe Vineyard.

Photo Credit: (top) Philippe Jordi, executive director of Island Housing Trust (IHT) by Randi Baird

The Cottagers, Inc. Partnership

HarborHomeswasthefortunatebeneficiaryofa$15,000checkfromtheCottagers,Inc.,anhistoric non-profit,philanthropicorganizationofAfrican-AmericanwomenhomeownersonMartha’s Vineyard.TheCottagershavepartneredwithHarborHomestoprovidesupport,mentoringand holidaycelebrationsforthewomenresidentsoftheNewYorkAvenuehouse.

Gretchen Underwood, Vivian Male, Jennifer Turner, Jocelyn Walton Coleman, Julia Burgess, Carlotta Williams and Sharon Redd.

Gretchen Coleman Thomas, Chef Cenieka Fleming, Jocelyn Coleman Walton

Tashmoo House for Men in Vineyard Haven

TashmooHouseforMeninVineyardHavenwasfullyfunctionalin2021/22.Withfinancialand technicalsupportfromIslandHousingTrust(IHT),aswellasamatchinggrantinitiativefromthe UnitedMethodistSociety,HarborHomeswasabletopurchasethepropertyin2020.Itprovides privateroomsfor6residentswhoareincomeeligibleandwholackhousing.Themen,ages21–65,sharekitchen,laundry,andbathroomfacilities,pay$450/monthinprogramfees,andassistwith themaintenanceoftheproperty.Acasemanagervisitsthehouseseveraltimesaweek,meets individuallywithclients,helpsresidentsaccesscriticalhealthandmentalhealthservices,andensures thatthehouseisasafe,comfortable,andsupportiveenvironmentforallparticipants. TheTashmoo Househasbeenparticularlysuccessfulinsupportingtwosubgroupsofapplicants:youthwho benefitfromastable,drugandalcohol-freeenvironmentandolderadultswithdisabilitiesor workforceinjurieswithverylimitedincomes. IslandGrownInitiative(IGI)hasdonated homemadesoupsandmealstothehousetoensurethatresidentshavebothfoodandshelter.

The New York Avenue House for Women

TheNewYorkAvenueHouseforWomeninOakBluffsopenedinNovember2021.Likethe TashmooHouseforMen,thispropertyreceivedfinancialsupportfromIslandHousingTrustand assistanceinsecuringadeedrestrictiononthepropertytosustainitasaffordablehousing.Itnow houses6lowincomewomen.Theresidentshavesingleroomswithprivatebathroomsandshare kitchen,laundryandcommonspace.Thepropertyalsoprovidesofficespacefor2staff,theexecutive directorofHarborHomesandthecaseworkerforthewomen’shouse.TheCottagers,Inc.,a philanthropicorganizationofAfricanAmericanwomenhomeowners,has“adopted”thehouseand providedfunding,mentoringforayoungwomaninthehouseandgiftsfortheresidents.Inaddition, twoCottagershavejoinedtheBoardofHarborHomes.Theresidentshavethrivedintheirnew home,madegainsinemploymentandcreatedacongenialcommunity.IslandGrownInitiativehas kepttherefrigeratorsstockedwithfoodoverthewinter.TheGreenhouse,anislandfoodnonprofit, hasofferedafamilymembershiptoresidentsoftheNewYorkAve.houseandanopportunitytolearn aboutgrowingandconsuminghealthyfood.

The Winter Shelter

TheWinterShelteroriginatedin2016byagroupofclergyandamultitudeof volunteers.HarborHomestookoverrunningtheshelterin2020,duringtheCOVID pandemic,whenitwashighriskforvolunteers,particularlyolderretiredadults,to workinagroupsetting.Duringthispastwinter,fromNovemberthroughDecember 2021,theFederatedChurchandSt.AndrewsofEdgartownopenedtheirdoorsfor homelessadults.FromJanuary1throughMarch31,2022,HarborHomesin partnershipwithMVCommunityServices,providedanightlyshelterforupto26 registeredguests.HarborHomesrecruitednewvolunteersandwithfundingfromMV Hospitalpaidovernightstafftosuperviseandsupporttheattendees.Themajorityof guestswerechronicallyhomelessindividualswhohavebeenhomelessforatleastayear andhaveadisability,whichmightincludeasubstanceabuseoraddictionproblemor mentalillness.Theprogramwassuccessfulinofferinganutritiousbreakfastanddinner toguests,aquiet,comfortableatmosphere,andarefugefromthecoldallwinter. Local restaurants,includingTigerhawkSandwichCompany,LittleHouseCafé,thePawnee House,EdgartownPizza,theKitchenPorch,JuicebytheSea,theBarn,Bowland Bistro,LittleRockFarm,LuckyHanks,DosMas,SloughFarm,SweetBites,Albert Latanzi/YMCASnackBar,ChefHollyLawyer,ChefJoMaxwell,ChefDavidJoyce andCakesbyLiz,donatedmorningandeveningmealsthroughoutthewinter.The programoperatedfrom6pmto8amdaily.

Left to right - Ilona Metell, Laura Noonan, and Bonnie Tilton

Nineteen restaurants and two food pantries provided meals and snacks to individuals and families who sought housing or shelter from Harbor Homes.

TheHotelRespiteProgramwasanopportunityforindividualsandfamilieswhowere homelesstoresideinahotelroomduringthewintermonths.Staysrangedfromafew daysto5months.Individualswithasubstanceabuseoraddictionconditionwerenot eligibleforthehotelrespiteprogram.MVHospitalwasamajorfunderoftheprogram andtheirstaffwereaprimarysourceofreferral.

Theprioritypopulationwereadultswhowerehomelessandmedicallyfragile,either physicallyoremotionally.Theirhealthormentalhealthconditionsmadeittoo challengingforthemtosleepattheemergencywintershelter.Theseclientsneededafull dayplacementwheretheycouldreceivesupportservicesfromMealsonWheels,a visitingnurseoracaseworker.

Inaddition,therewereindividualswhowereintheworkforce,hadverylimitedincomes butwereabletocostshareahotelroom.Thesewereworkerswhoneededaccesstoa dailyshowerandcleanclothesinordertostayfunctionalinthecommunity.Often,they wereadultsinrecoverywhoneededtoavoidcommuningwiththeresidentsintheshelter whowerestillstrugglingwithanaddiction.

Lastly,therewereafewfamilieswhohadverylowincomesandwhohadabruptlylost theirrentalhousing.Withnootheravailablehousingoption,HarborHomeshelpedfund hotelstaysonamonthlybasisinordertokeepchildreninschool.Inadditiontothehotel stay,thehomelesspreventioncaseworkerhelpedafamilywithahousingsearchforanew placement.

Harbor Homes housed, sheltered, fed, or supported over 150 residents this past year.

In2021,anewHomelessPreventionCaseWorker,fundedbyDukesCountybut employedbyHarborHomes,assistedthosewithhousinginstabilitytoaccessrental assistanceandapplyforlowincomehousingopportunities.BeginninginAugust 2021,thecaseworkerwashousedattheNewYorkAvenuelocation,supportedthe residentsintheWomen’sHouseandrespondedtoover80individualsandfamilies whohadahousingcrisis.

AWinterWarmingCenterlocatedattheGoodShepherdParishCenterandGrace Churchran3-5days/weekandofferedhomelessadultsaccesstolunch,laundry,and showerfacilities. Inaddition,thehomelesspreventioncaseworkerwasonhandto provideresourceandreferralinformationtoindigentclientswhoneededanarrayof housingandsocialservices.

Fifty volunteers contributed a total of 1365 hours of free labor to provide services and support to our n ng insecure.

Resident Success Stories

Jackwasahealthymanwhoheldasteadyjob.Inhisearly40s,hehadastrokewhichlefthimwith memoryandphysicaldisabilities.WhileworkingwiththeoutreachcommunityspecialistattheMV Hospital,JackwasabletocompletehisapplicationforHarborHomes.Afteracceptanceintothemen’s congregatehome,theHHcasemanagerandMVhospitaloutreachspecialisthelpedhimgetthe necessarymedicalcareheneeded,includinganeurologist.Afterayearofbeingaprogramparticipant atHH,JackdecidedhewantedtolivenearhissisterinNewYork.Withassistance,hewasableto movetoNewYorkandreunitewithhissister.Todate,hekeepsintouchwiththosewhohelpedhim atHH.

OneoftheoriginalresidentsoftheNewYorkAvecongregatehousewasayoungwomanwhohad beenworkinginarestaurantandlivinginhercar.Oncehoused,shetalkedaboutherdreamtoopen upherownrestaurant.OneofthemembersoftheCottagers,Inc.,alocalphilanthropythathad “adopted”thewomen’scongregatehouse,providedweeklymentoringtoher.Withthissupportand encouragement,shedevelopedabusinessplantosetupafoodtruckandconvincedalocal establishmenttoletherpilotitattheirsite.Itwasaquicksuccess.Thisnewemployercontinuesto promoteherfoodtruckandofferedheranapartmentthatshetransitionedintoafterafewmonths.

Special In-Kind Donation

Asanonprofitorganizationsupportinglow-incomeresidents,HarborHomesqualifiedforan energysavercontractwithCapeLightContractofHyannis.TheresidentsofHarborHomes congregatehouseshaveincomesatorbelow30%oftheAMIforDukesCounty.Theirhomes, therefore,qualifiedforafreeenergyauditandtheequipmentandlabortoupgradetheirproperties. BothTashmooHouseforMenandtheNewYorkAvenueHouseforWomenwereinsulatedand convertedfrompropaneheattoenergy-efficientheatpumps.Inaddition,theWomen’sHouse receivedanewrefrigeratorandfreezer.Thetotalvalueoftheconversionandenergy-efficient applianceswas$269,103.32.

List of Donors

Harbor Homes of MV has received personal donations totaling $536,094 over the past year. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the following individuals:

BrookeAdams&TonyShalhoub

DoreenAnderson

CathlinBaker

TheChilmarkFoundation

GailBecker

BergerFamilyFoundation

LisaBerkower&MitchRuben

DougBest

BoyerKatzenFamilyFoundation

JaneBradbury

Eric&KrystaBrooks

VictoriaCampbell

KevinCasey

LucindaCassells

CharlesLamontPostCharitableTrust

MaryP.Chatfield

Megan&PeterChernin

ElisaCohen

JennieCook

DonaldCorner

MLCrofton-Atkins

Ron&SherylDagostino

TedDanson&MarySteenburgen

LaurieS.Denno

EdwardsHarrisFamilyFoundation

ElEdwards

Beverly&DavidEspuga

PamelaFlam

Gary&LisaFoster

Jennifer&ScottFrank

JimGammill&SusanAlexander

Fabian&MarielGarcia

ThereseGeoghegan

DorieGodfrey

TimothyGoodman

Armen&VickyHanjian

HarveyMcNairyFoundation

MichaelandJessicaHoltham

AnnHunt

Helen&ArneKeijzer

SethA.&BethS.Klarman

Terri&JeffreyKominers

JaneLancellotti

HarrisLoeser

CarlyLook

LudwigFamilyFoundation

PeterLyons

Judith&RobertMaynes

KevinMcFarland

KeithMcGuire

Peter&LaurieMcTeague

MichaelMiller&AlisaLevine

LindaMitchell&DanielKoren

MargaretMoran&SimonShapiro

MehrenNasser-Ghodsi

DessislavaNedeva

JenniferO'Hanlon

RobertO'Rourke

KaraO'Sullivan

Barack&MichelleObama

PamelaandBillCravenChartableFund

TriciaPedro

BeatricePhear

ClydePhillips

DeborahPrevidi

Mr.&Mrs.Priore

KatherineE.Putnam&TimothyDelaney

RonaldRappaport

RobertE.&StacyT.MaleckiFamilyFund

BarbaraRogers&RonaldDomurat

GwenRussakis

SarahSafford

HowardSashin

KristineScheffer

Lauren&JosephSerpa

BarbaraSilk

SusanSilk

WadeSimmons

JenniferSlossberg

ValerieSonnenthal

JeanneStaples

SwartzFoundation

DouglasTaft

MarlaTolinKatz

SusanE.Trees

ZoeTurcotte

KathleenVerner

DavidVigneault

Edward(Peter)Vincent

JohnE.Walsh

HarryWeiss

Jennifer&CarltonWoods

VictoriaWoolner

SarahWu

Local Businesses and Organizations

BarnstableCountyMutualInsuranceCo.

CapeCod5

CronigsMarket

TheCottagers,Inc.

TheFederatedChurchofMV

FirstCongregationalChurchofWestTisbury

GraceEpiscopalChruchofMV

IslandHousingTrust

l'etoileRestaurant

Martha'sVineyardHebrewCenter

Martha'sVineyardInsurance

NetworkforGood

SaintAndrewsEpiscopalChurch

Soikkeli&Co

TrinityEpiscopalChurch

UnitedMethodistSocietyofMV

UpIslandRegionalSchoolDistrict

Goods and Services

EdgartownPaintShop

Larsen'sFishMarket

Martha'sVineyardSpearpointOysters

TimelessStoneworks

GRANTS THAT HELPED FUND OUR MISSION

Harbor Homes of MV has been the fortunate beneficiary of over $600,000 in grants over the past year. The following state, regional and local entities have awarded Harbor Homes funding to support several homeless prevention initiatives.

MARTHA’S VINEYARD HOSPITAL

Supporttemporaryshelterduring COVID

AQUINNAH COMMUNITY PRESERVATION GRANT

Purchasepropertyforaffordablehousing

OAK BLUFFS COMMUNITY PRESERVATION GRANT

Purchasepropertyforaffordablehousing

TISBURY COMMUNITY PRESERVATION GRANT

Purchasepropertyforaffordablehousing

WEST TISBURY COMMUNITY PRESERVATION GRANT

Purchasepropertyforaffordablehousing

CHILMARK COMMUNITY PRESERVATION GRANT

Purchasepropertyforaffordablehousing

CEDAC (STATE GRANT- COST REIMBURSEMENT)

DevelopmentcostsforNYAvenue

UNITED WAY OF CAPE AND ISLANDS

HarborHomesadministration

ARPA

NewYorkAvenueHouse

MV COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

LaundryRoom/windows

IN-KIND: CAPE LIGHT COMPACT

Weatherizationof2houses

Events

Give Me Shelter

Art Show

InAugust2021HarborHomesof Martha'sVineyardhadourfirst annualArtShowfundraiser.

TanyaAugoustinos,ownerofA Gallery,andBoardmember MarjorieMasoncuratedtheshow bringingtogetheraunique combinationofcontemporary andPleinAireworksofartfrom localprofessionalartists,

includingtwotalentedBoard membersMarjorieMasonand JenniferJoanou.Wehavebeenvery happytofindsomanyinspired supportersintheIsland’sArt communityandbeyondwhosee thisshowasawonderfulwayto expresstheirdeepcaringand commitmenttoourmostvulnerable unshelteredneighbors.

Photo Credit: Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette

Volunteer Pickle Eville and Board Member, Reverend Cathlin Baker

KarenTewhey(center)accepts$300,000checkfromRep.DylanFernandesforHarborHomes.

HarborHomesofMartha’sVineyardP.O.Box4795 VineyardHaven,MA02568

Cover Photo Credit: Maria Thibodeau

Back Cover Photo Credit: Mark Alan Lovewell/Vineyard Gazette Design: www.HoverFlyMedia.com