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Up Next for 2016: Renovating Residencia Betances

Up Next for 2016: Renovating Residencia Betances

It’s been a busy 2016 so far for IBA. In addition to launching the West Newton/Rutland Streets revitalization project, we are thrilled to announce that we have officially closed financing on another renovation project, this time at Residencia Betances. Residencia Betances has been a part of the IBA family for more than 20 years, and is an incredible resource for many in our community. It is one of the few in Boston that specifically provides affordable housing for Spanish-speaking residents who are managing a mentally illness and are formerly homeless clients of the Department of Mental Health. It is an 11-unit, single-room-occupancy development located on Shawmut Avenue in the South End. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC) have provided us with the financing to perform renovations to the project, which includes upgrades to both the interior and exterior of the property. We are upgrading the exterior to enhance the property’s historical brownstone façade. Inside the property, we are making improvements to the individual units and will upgrade the common areas to create more of an open and welcoming floor plan, so that residents can better enjoy the space. An important added value of Residencia Betances is the dedication our team has to our residents. We work closely with the Department of Mental Health to ensure that residents are given the supportive services they need to live their most fulfilling and quality lives by emphasizing residents’ health, recovery and wellness. To accomplish this goal, a bilingual and bicultural support staff works around the clock with residents to handle treatments and further their rehabilitation goals. The staff assists residents with symptom management, community skill development, support with medication administration and health care appointments and meal preparation. Furthermore, our residents are encouraged to take part in social, employment and wellness activities. We are excited to be underway on these improvements. Our work began in January, and are looking forward to completing this project this fall. Thank you to DHCD and CEDAC for helping IBA to preserve this important and vibrant community. If you want to support IBA’s mission to protect affordable housing, promote diversity in our communities and empower residents, visit us at /donate/....