Nine MassHousing partners -- including lenders, property management companies, developers and others—were recognized for their outstanding contributions to MassHousing’s affordable housing mission at the 2nd Annual Awards Event on November 20, 2019.
Two lenders were in the spotlight for helping to deliver MassHousing’s affordable home mortgage loans to consumers. Residential Mortgage Services (RMS) achieved the highest volume of lending in the Commonwealth’s 26 Gateway Cities, as well as the highest volume of lending for MassHousing’s Down Payment Assistance program. Accepting the awards for Residential Mortgage Services were Vice President and Sales Manager Mike Ianno, Area Branch Manager Jim Finucane and Vice President for Loan Operations Sue Quilty (pictured above with MassHousing's Chrystal Kornegay and Mounzer Aylouche).
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation received the award for highest volume of lending to minority borrowers. Fairway originated 191 MassHousing loans to minority borrowers totaling $35.7 million. Accepting the award was Fairway’s Regional Marketing Director, Betsy Boggia.
MassHousing acknowledged the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI) for their outstanding commitment to homebuyer education. In 2019, MassHousing staff participated in 10 of ORI’s classes in six communities where more than 400 students graduated. Classes were offered in Spanish, Creole, Arabic, Somali, Swahili, Russian and Nepali. Accepting the award was ORI's Executive Director, Mary Truong and members of the ORI team.
MassHousing gave two awards that recognized Massachusetts companies for their commitment to doing business with minority- and women-owned businesses (MBEs and WBEs). UHM Properties had the highest percentage of expenditures with MBE and WBE vendors in their MassHousing-financed portfolio of apartment communities. UHM's CEO Kevin Bynoe; Director of Compliance & Training Sheila Harper, and Director of Human Resources Patricia Farr accepted the award from MassHousing's Chrystal Kornegay and James Fortune.
Bilt-Rite Construction was acknowledged for their outstanding commitment to doing business with minority sub-contractors. Bilt-Rite awarded 38% ($7 million of an $18.6 million budget) of the contracts at the Gateway Residences in Lynn to MBEs. Accepting were Bilt-Rite Compliance Coordinator Kristine Magown and Controller John Cullati.
An award for Outstanding Commitment to Sustainable Development was presented to Cambridge-based Homeowner’s Rehab, Inc. (HRI), for their long-standing dedication to sustainable building design, construction, renovation and operation practices. Currently, HRI is building the all-affordable 98-unit Finch Cambridge, formerly known as Concord Highlands, which will be the largest certified Passive House development MassHousing has financed to date. Accepting the award was HRI's Director of Development, Jane Carbone.
2Life Communities— a nationally recognized real estate developer and management agent focused on fostering independent living and aging in-community—was acknowledged for their advocacy of affordable housing for older adults. MassHousing has financed three 2Life properties: The Gitta and Saul Kurlat House in Brighton; Shillman House in Framingham and Golda Meir House in Newton. 2Life recently conducted a study to help determine exactly what mix of supportive housing services delivers the greatest health care savings. 2Life Board Chair Donna Kalikow and President and CEO Amy Schectman were there to accept the award from MassHousing's Chrystal Kornegay and Mark Teden.
Dave McMahon (second from left above, with MassHousing's Chrystal Kornegay, Ed Chase and Thaddeus Miles) of the non-profit Dismas House was honored for his exemplary commitment to MassHousing’s efforts to provide sober housing for people in recovery. The mission of Dismas House is to “reconcile former prisoners to society, and society to former prisoners, through the development of a supportive community.” Since 1998, Mr. McMahon and Dismas House have developed affordable sober housing and provided critical services for ex-prisoners at Dismas House, the Father John Brooks House and the Dismas Family Farm.
Lastly, MassHousing gave its Distinguished Contributor Award to The Kuehn Foundation. The honor goes to an organization or individual who has made a significant mark on the affordable housing landscape. The Kuehn Foundation was praised for its efforts to develop The Housing Navigator, a web-based search engine that will make it easier to locate available affordable apartment units across the Commonwealth. Accepting the honor was Kuehn Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Gilbert and Trustee Dan Taylor.