FALL 2021 | In This Issue Providing Stability in an Unsteady World Q & A with Our Stabilization Advocate Our President on Impossible Choices Introducing a New Holiday Card
NEWS
Join Us for Funny Women…Serious Business, November 9th
Providing Stability in an Unsteady World For the guests of Rosie’s Place, surviving a pandemic when you’re barely surviving poverty can feel impossible. Finding stability is a struggle for poor women who are just one sick day away from job loss, one missed paycheck away from eviction. The tumult of housing loss can quickly lead to unemployment, homelessness and illness.
Q&A
MICHELLE BELL
STABILIZATION ADVOCATE Michelle Bell’s role has grown and transformed over the 16 years she has been with Rosie’s Place. She first began working in our supportive housing for women living with HIV/AIDS. Several years later, she became an Advocate working with guests on-site at Rosie’s Place. And eventually, she brought her expertise to the role of Stabilization Advocate, in which she supports women who are housed to maintain their stability. What kind of help do we provide through the Stabilization program? For women who are newly housed, elderly or housebound, living with disabilities or struggling with illness, we assess their needs and develop a network of supports to keep them in stable housing and health. Because for most of our guests, the two are intrinsically tied. If your health is at risk, then so is your housing and vice versa. How did the pandemic affect your work? For so long, we couldn’t visit women in their homes. So, we got creative and found other ways to connect. We dropped off groceries, masks and cleaning supplies, picked up and delivered medications and emailed and texted if there were questions with paperwork or bills. More than anything, we were on the phone a lot. Most of the women I work with live alone and the isolation was a daily struggle for many of them. We talked more than ever, and I think that was a comfort to them in a time when so much was unknown for all of us. And now, as we slowly emerge from the pandemic, we are making sure our guests know their rights as tenants. We don’t just help women with their immediate needs, but we also give them the support and tools they need to advocate for themselves over the long-term. The pandemic really exacerbated the struggles our guests were already grappling with like hunger, mental health issues and debt. It set them back on many levels and we will work with them for as long as they need us, to help them move forward once again. Why do you think our Stabilization efforts are so successful? It’s a unique model. Visiting with women where they live, allows us to build rapport with them more quickly. When a woman welcomes me into her home and trusts me enough to share what she might be struggling with, I take that responsibility and my commitment to her seriously. The guests I work with know they can count on me and on everyone at Rosie’s Place. What has kept you at Rosie’s Place all these years? I love that we have remained true to our mission and it’s informed and inspired all the growth our programs have made. My path—from working in our supportive housing to Advocacy and then Stabilization—is a perfect example of how we’re always looking to see how we can be of the most help to the women who need it most.
Rosie’s Place has always been a safety net for women trying to keep their housing. We know that if a woman comes to us in need of help with her rent, she needs more than a check. And we know that we can help. Whether it’s healthy groceries from our Pantry or expert legal or mental health support—our programs and services are designed to address not just the urgent symptoms of instability, but the root causes, as well. Now more than ever, as the pandemic continues to bring more upheaval and loss, housing truly is healthcare. And we are a lifeline for women living on the edge, providing more help than ever before. Over the past year, our team of multilingual Advocates has conducted 34% more visits with 87% more women. Our Advocacy Helpline allows women to access help with whatever they need from wherever they are when they call
us. This means more help with back rent and utility arrearages, moving and storage costs, mental health and recovery support and expert housing, legal, and job search advice. And as a national eviction crisis looms, our efforts to keep women and their families in their homes have grown by 72%. In order to meet the critical needs of our guests, our work evolved during the pandemic. In addition to meeting with women one-on-one in person, we now also connect with them remotely, online and over the phone. Striving to find innovative and impactful ways to help poor and homeless women to not only survive— but to stabilize and thrive is what Rosie’s Place was built on. We have a history of it. Almost 20 years back, we saw that a great many homeless women who secured housing, were unable to maintain it. This made clear for us that simply attaining housing is not an overnight solution to the months and years of challenges that may cause a woman to become homeless in the first place. Chronic mental illness, physical disabilities or language barriers can jeopardize a successful tenancy. Essential household responsibilities such as paying bills, housekeeping or mediating disputes with landlords and neighbors can become overwhelming and ultimately sabotage a woman’s housing.
We realized we could provide these all too often isolated women, with the myriad supports they needed to remain housed. And in 2004, we launched our Homeless Prevention Initiative to bring the resources of Rosie’s Place to the homes of women in need. What began as a single staffer with a small caseload is today our Stabilization program that helps almost 100 women annually, to stay housed and healthy. Our Stabilization Advocates (like Michelle Bell, who you can read more about in our Q & A piece) meet with each woman in their caseload, and develop a support system that might include referrals for mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, job placement, housing supports and primary health care. Rosie’s Place is also able to provide direct financial assistance to prevent eviction and utility shut-offs, healthy groceries and even assist with transportation and the purchase of household essentials such as cooking utensils and furniture. At Rosie’s Place, we know that stability isn’t achieved when a lease is signed. But rather, that’s an important first step in a process—and for many women, it’s a long one. Our guests know that we are here to support them through all the pitfalls and progress that journey brings.
Rachel’s Story For nearly a decade, Rachel and her husband shared the responsibility of caring for their daughter with disabilities, who requires 24-hour care. Rachel worked nights so she could be with Gloria during the day and in turn, her husband worked days to cover the evenings at home. But two years ago, when their marriage fell apart, Rachel was left on her own to manage her daughter’s care. She moved with Gloria into a one-bedroom apartment in a new city. Without the financial and caregiving support of her husband, it was difficult, but Rachel pushed forward. She found a job as a medical billing assistant and secured in-home medical care for Gloria. Stability seemed within reach. But then the pandemic hit and Rachel’s hours at work were drastically cut. She became overwhelmed and afraid, as her bills began to pile up.
She also worked with our Employment Specialist and secured a new full-time medical billing assistant job. Our Legal Advocates are helping her to finalize her divorce and enforce a child support agreement. And when Rachel described the limitations of Gloria’s wheelchair, we were able to underwrite a new electric one that will give Gloria more comfort and independence.
When a neighbor told Rachel about Rosie’s Place, she at last felt hope. She called our Advocacy Helpline, and we were able to provide her with financial assistance so she could catch up on her rent and utility bills. Rachel began utilizing our Food Pantry every week for healthy groceries and household essentials.
At her new job now for almost a year, Rachel has caught up on all her expenses. She is saving up for a bigger apartment near a school that can accommodate Gloria’s complex health needs.
“I was so relieved,” Rachel said. “The fear of not being able to keep the electricity on for Gloria’s treatments or worse than that, be evicted, had kept me up every night for months. Finally, I could breathe.”
“Rosie’s Place made me believe that I can do more than just get by,” said Rachel. “I want Gloria and me to get ahead; to have goals and a future to look forward to, together.”
Our President on Impossible Choices Dear Friend, Hunger and housing have long been the two most critical and often competing challenges facing poor and homeless women. For our guests, impossible choices are commonplace. When it comes to paying for necessities such as rent, utilities, food or medication, it’s not a matter of when or how much. It’s a question of which one. Which one can I make do without? And more often than not, going hungry is chosen in order to stay housed or to keep the lights on. The global pandemic we continue to endure, and the illness, unemployment and instability it brings upon households that were barely getting by as is, has only worsened these crises. Kip Tiernan Memorial during fabrication
As the statistics on these pages attest to—the need for our expert wraparound Stabilization, Housing Search, Legal, Advocacy and Mental Health programs is only increasing. And every morning, the line of women stretching down the block to utilize our Food Pantry and the women filling our Dining Room at breakfast attest to the critical need for meals and groceries among our guests. Rosie’s Place, as always, has responded to this unprecedented need with unprecedented care and compassion. Our team of multi-lingual Advocates expects to provide 22,000 remote and in-person visits with women in need, more than ever before, over the next year. This fall, we continue the extraordinary growth of our Food Pantry, which doubled its capacity at the onset of the pandemic. By increasing our budget and expanding our service hours, we will further build our capacity by a remarkable 30%, serving 350 households daily. And of course, what always resonates more than numbers are the stories behind them. Janine is a grandmother who worked as a grocery store cashier throughout the pandemic. But in the winter, when she got COVID, she was homebound for months, overwhelmed worrying about how she could put food in her cupboards, keep her electricity on and pay her rent. Thankfully, her job was waiting for her when her health improved—but unfortunately, so too, were her bills. Rosie’s Place was able to catch Janine up on her back rent, and even negotiate a payment plan with her landlord for the months ahead so that she could pay off other bills too. We also helped her with groceries and household essentials.
In response to the dramatic upswing in statewide food insecurity, our Food Pantry has now tripled its prepandemic capacity—providing fresh and non-perishable groceries to 350 women daily.
We know that you believe as we do, that women like Janine should not have to choose between eating dinner or paying rent. Thank you for your generous support of Rosie’s Place as we work together to provide solutions to impossible choices. With appreciation, Leemarie Mosca
ROSIE’S PLACE NEWS is published three times a year to inform our friends about activities and events taking place throughout the Rosie’s Place community. OUR MISSION is to provide a safe and nurturing environment to help poor and homeless women to maintain their dignity, seek opportunity, and find security in their lives. President/CEO Leemarie Mosca Director of Communications | Editor Jamie Doyle Design Colette O’Neill We’d love to hear from you! Please contact us with your comments at jdoyle@rosiesplace.org or 617.318.0265.
Young Professionals Network
Join the Young Professionals Network (YPN) of Rosie’s Place for our Fall Night Out, on Tuesday, October 12th at Dorchester Brewing Company! You’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of Dorchester Brewing favorites while connecting with other young professionals and learning more about our critical work. Tickets include a beverage and delicious fare from M&M BBQ. All proceeds benefit Rosie’s Place and our programs serving poor and homeless women. Find more information about the event and our Young Professionals Network, at www.rosiesplace.org/youngprofessionals.
thank you for standing with us as we remain a constant for our guests.
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Guests in our Overnight Shelter, many of whom have been staying with us throughout the pandemic, recently completed a 10-week Zoom music class through Berklee College of Music as well as a month-long online Spanish course. Studying together, our guests and staff built community and skills, and made some great music!
Thank you to our friends at The Langham, Boston, who recognized Rosie’s Place staff and other frontline workers across Boston, by presenting them with gift certificates for overnight stays at their beautiful, newly renovated hotel. We are so grateful for this thoughtful and luxurious gift of much needed rest and relaxation!
A big thank you to our friends from Boston Trinity Academy for donating hygiene kits and masks. These day-to-day items are vital for the wellbeing of our homeless guests. Learn how you can help us provide women in need with care packages full of essential items at www.rosiesplace.org/carepackages.
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Our Senior Director of Emergency Services, Orialis Maxwell, recently spoke with Angel Salcedo on his Spanish-language news show, Encuentro Latino, about how we’re growing our programs in response to the increased need resulting from the pandemic.
For a Brig
On June 17th, we celebrated what would have been Rosie’s Place’s founder, Kip Tiernan’s 95th birthday. Guests enjoyed Kip’s favorite meal of BBQ ribs, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and cornbread with red velvet cupcakes and chocolate cream pie for dessert. Much laughter and many fond memories of Kip were shared.
Evening Walk
Send holiday greetings to your family, friends and clients, and give the gift of hope to poor and homeless women. The holiday cards you purchase from Rosie’s Place for business or personal use will help fund new beginnings for 12,000 women a year. We are pleased to offer another new image from acclaimed local artist Sam Vokey. A winter’s sunset and the city’s lights illuminate the Evening Walk of two companions on the Boston Common. Visit our website to view all ten classic Boston scenes and whimsical winter illustrations, available in 10-packs ($20) and variety 15-packs ($26). Custom printing is available as well. You can remember Rosie’s Place at holiday time in two ways: Purchase packs of cards • Ten winter scenes to choose from • 10-packs of 1 design: $20 • 15-packs with 3 designs: $26 • Comes with envelopes and classic greeting inside: “Warm wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season.”
Personalize your greeting with custom-printed cards • Available on orders of 50+ cards • Print a unique message in color or black and white • Add logo, photo or signatures for a special touch • Envelopes are included and can be customized • Our online ordering system makes ordering quick and easy
Order your special holiday greetings while supporting the work of Rosie’s Place today! • Online: www.rosiesplace.org/holidaycards • Phone: Sara Clark at 617.318.0238 • Email: sclark@rosiesplace.org • Mail: send a check to Rosie’s Place, Attn: Holiday Cards, 889 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118
Ahead of the Boston Mayoral primary, our Public Policy program reached out to candidates, asking how they would address four major concerns for our guests (housing, homelessness, supports for low-income people and how COVID-19 impacts shelters). Their answers, along with information on the City Council candidates, and how and where to vote were compiled in an Election Guide that was mailed out to almost 2,000 guests and distributed on-site at Rosie’s Place.
how you
can help
Virtual Food Drives Help stock our Pantry shelves by starting a food drive of nutritious staples at https://bit.ly/RPFoodDrive.
Care Packages Many guests are stretching already insufficient budgets to cover food and housing for themselves and their families. Rosie’s Place assists with these urgent needs as well as other essentials, such as toiletries and personal care products. Help us by creating care packages filled with necessities like toothpaste, sanitizer and socks. Check out www.rosiesplace.org/carepackages for specific guidelines and to apply for community service hours. For questions or for more information about virtual opportunities, please contact Community Engagement at volunteer@rosiesplace.org.
Brightening the Season It’s never too early to start planning for the holiday season at Rosie’s Place. With your help, we can bring holiday cheer and caring to so many women who have struggled every day this year to get by. Most needed items are: • Brand new hats, gloves and scarves • $25 gift cards at CVS, Walgreens, Target and Old Navy • Bath and body gift sets with lotion, body wash and body spray (from stores such as Bath & Body Works) Your generosity will bring warmth and joy to our guests and their families. Please contact Shelli Stevens at 617.318.0211 or sstevens@rosiesplace.org for more information and to arrange a drop-off time. We hope to receive all holiday donations by December 3, 2021. Thank you for your support!
FUNNY WOMEN... SERIOUS BUSINESS A livestream event to benefit Rosie’s Place Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Join us for our annual Funny Women…Serious Business event, streaming online Tuesday, November 9th, exclusively for our ticketholders and sponsors. This year’s event features speaker Natasha Trethewey, 19th United States Poet Laureate, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and author of the New York Times bestseller, Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir. Her story is one of resilience and enduring love. The event is made possible through the support of Presenting Sponsors Bank of America, Globalization Partners, Christina and Michael Gordon, Kristen and John Maxwell, Michele May and David Walt, New Balance Foundation, Deb and Mark Pasculano and Leading Sponsors Amundi US, Cherise and Robert Bransfield, Coldwell Banker Realty Cares, Forest Foundation, Deirdre Giblin, The Gilson Family Foundation, Highland Partners Charitable Foundation and Jane and Joe Kringdon (as of printing date). Proceeds will benefit all of Rosie’s Place’s vital programs and services for poor and homeless women. Your support ensures that we remain a place of help and hope for more than 12,000 women in need, every year. Sponsor opportunities are available. Please contact Shelli Stevens for more information at 617.318.0211 or sstevens@rosiesplace.org.
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