The 'Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity Initiative' comes from a grant from The Kresge Foundation, which is funding 20 groups nationally to help US cities and neighborhoods prepare for the effects of continuing sea-level rise. NOAH and ULI are holding three major Climate Change Workshops (open to any East Boston resident) between March 25th and mid-July. At the March 25th workshop at the East Boston Library, 10 City and State agencies such as the MBTA, Massport, Boston/Water Sewer, DOT as well as the City's Energy and Environment Department, will be presenting their thoughts or plans on Climate Change preparedness for East Boston. NOAH's intention is: 1) to assist local residents in understanding the challenges Climate Change, Sea-level rise and Green House Gas emissions impose on our neighborhood, and 2) to assist agencies in understanding the neighborhood and household needs of East Boston families due to the effects of Climate Change.  

Dr. Paul Kirshen

 

The Kresge grant is enabling this essential dialogue and we are very grateful for this opportunity. The eventual goal will be for State/City agencies to take feedback from East Boston and then make future capital expenditure plans to preserve East Boston property, our workforce needs and local assets, such as the Neighborhood Health Center. Residents will also learn about technologies and plans they can make to lower their own Green House Gases and to preserve their property in the event of major storm surges in the years ahead.

 

All residents are welcome to attend these workshops. Some assistance may be provided to help with child care or to participate on a regular basis in this major effort. Please reach CBE Director Chris Marchi at 617-418-8241 for details or to learn more.    

FINCAP: The next FREE Financial Capability course will be held at NOAH over three nights, on Tuesday, March 31, Wednesday, April 1 and Thursday, April 2, from 6-9 PM. Our comprehensive bilingual (Spanish and English) financial capability programming teaches students to set realistic financial goals, maximize their income, save money, build assets, make prudent spending decisions, borrow appropriately, and adequately protect assets and wealth. Upon completion of our 8-hour financial capability seminar, students are invited to participate in our no-cost financial coaching programming, which helps ensure that after students learn these skills, they have the necessary support and resources to put them into action. These free financial capability services are provided by a certified financial counselor, a consumer banking officer, and a licensed financial adviser. Participants in the course will gain skills and knowledge that will help them improve their credit scores, increase net worth, and increase/maximize net monthly income. If you or someone you know might be interested in attending one of our courses, please contact Carrie Tennant, Esq. at 617-418-8264 or ctennant@noahcdc.org.

EITC: The Boston Tax Help Coalition offers FREE, fast and easy bilingual tax preparation services at NOAH on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 to 9 PM and Saturdays from 10 AM to 3 PM. There is free electronic filing by IRS certified volunteer tax preparers. If someone earned  less than $53,000 in 2014, they are qualified for this help. Certain income-qualified filers may even receive a rebate from the federal government. Appointments must be made by calling 617-418-8266.

Real Estate Department Update

February's record levels of snow and cold were troubling for everyone, especially for the senior and disabled residents we serve. NOAH's SHS Program Manager Anthony D'Andrea received call after call for weather-related emergencies. Roofs covered in snow and ice dams caused numerous leaks, as did burst, frozen pipes. There were also many 'no heat' calls, as older heating systems couldn't handle the strain of the prolonged cold temperatures. Kudos to Anthony for addressing each of these cases in a timely manner. The attached photo is of a client's roof, just before Anthony went out the window and shoveled off all the snow.

If you know of any low- or low-moderate-income senior homeowners in East Boston, Charlestown or the North or West Ends needing repairs or rehabs to remain safely in their homes, please ask them to call Anthony at 617-418-8265 or email adandrea@noahcdc.org. 

All of us at NOAH want to say 'Gracias', 'Grazie', 'Danke' and 'Merci Beaucoup' to all our recent funders, including: NeighborWorks America, United Way of Mass. Bay & Merrimack Valley, Health Resources in Action, TD Charitable Foundation, Corcoran Management, MHIC (Mass. Housing Investment Corp.), Greg Comeau, East Boston Savings Bank Foundation, Santander Bank, Boston Private Bank, Elkus Manfredi Architects, Rose Fiore, George Koehler, Kim Vermeer, Susan Kaufmann, Donald Blake, Robert Wegener, Frank Sepulveda, Mass. Mortgage Bankers Foundation and Larry Braman.  Without our wonderful supporters, we could not maintain our client services or programs at their current high levels. With them, we continue to create and maintain more sustainable neighborhoods, community services and affordable housing than ever before. We are grateful.