What makes the Women's Institute different from other developers?
What kind of organizations does the Women's Institute partner with?
Does the Women's Institute develop housing only for women?
Does the Women's Institute provide housing?
Does the Women's Institute provide social services?
Does the Women's Institute provide consulting services to non-profit organizations that would like to develop housing?
Has the Women's Institute won any awards?
How many projects has the Women's Institute completed?
How are the Women's Institute's projects financed?
Does the Women's Institute accept contributions?
How does the Women's Institute achieve its mission?
We achieve our mission in two unique ways. First, we create powerful local partnerships that directly respond to the needs of low-income people. Utilizing a strategic planning model, we bring many stake-holders to the table - community members, service providers, neighbors, funders, and others - to foster collaboration and investment in housing development. Once the vision is in place, we then specialize in driving the development process from zoning and permitting through financing, closing, construction, lease-up, occupancy, and asset management.
We achieve our mission in two unique ways. First, we create powerful local partnerships that directly respond to the needs of low-income people. Utilizing a strategic planning model, we bring many stake-holders to the table - community members, service providers, neighbors, funders, and others - to foster collaboration and investment in housing development. Once the vision is in place, we then specialize in driving the development process from zoning and permitting through financing, closing, construction, lease-up, occupancy, and asset management.
What kind of projects does the Women's Institute specialize in?
Over the years, the Women's Institute has tackled a variety of intricate development projects. Our organization does not shy away from challenging projects as we seek to create affordable housing for some of the most vulnerable members of our society. We have built emergency shelters for domestic violence survivors, transitional housing for individuals recovering from substance abuse, housing that is structured to be affordable to the lowest-income families (those earning less than 50% AMI), and permanent housing that responds to the changing needs of individuals living with HIV/AIDS, which allows them to remain in the same housing as their health needs evolve.
Over the years, the Women's Institute has tackled a variety of intricate development projects. Our organization does not shy away from challenging projects as we seek to create affordable housing for some of the most vulnerable members of our society. We have built emergency shelters for domestic violence survivors, transitional housing for individuals recovering from substance abuse, housing that is structured to be affordable to the lowest-income families (those earning less than 50% AMI), and permanent housing that responds to the changing needs of individuals living with HIV/AIDS, which allows them to remain in the same housing as their health needs evolve.
For us, the right development project includes partners that can recognize and address the needs of their community, and work with us in envisioning the proper types of affordable housing and supportive programming that will best respond to local individuals and families. We prioritize permanent housing with community and/or program facilities, and seek to include a percentage of units for the lowest income people.
What makes the Women's Institute different from other developers?
The Women's Institute is quite unique among housing and community development organizations in New England. As a mission-driven developer deeply committed to serving vulnerable populations through a "more than housing" model, we prioritize the economic stability needs of the adults and children who live in our properties in addition to our bricks and mortar development of affordable housing units. The Women's Institute's key strengths include:
The Women's Institute is quite unique among housing and community development organizations in New England. As a mission-driven developer deeply committed to serving vulnerable populations through a "more than housing" model, we prioritize the economic stability needs of the adults and children who live in our properties in addition to our bricks and mortar development of affordable housing units. The Women's Institute's key strengths include:
- Our mission of building affordable housing for the lowest income and most disenfranchised populations. Many affordable units that are built target families who are earning 60-80% of area median income (AMI). The Women's Institute targets households with incomes between 30 - 60% of AMI, especially individuals and families who are at-risk for homelessness.
- Our practice of partnering with local non-profit organizations, community groups, and public agencies that offer programming within our developments, which has the dual outcome of (1) providing growth and stabilization for these organizations and (2) ensuring economic security and supportive services for residents and the greater community.
What kind of organizations does the Women's Institute partner with?
The Women's Institute partners with organizations and groups that seek to reverse the critical affordable housing shortage in our communities. This can include non-profit organizations, service providers, community groups, public agencies, for-profit developers, and others. We only ask that your group share the same commitment we have to creating housing and programs for the region's most vulnerable populations, and have the tenacity to answer the call to action. You need not be looking to specifically develop and own affordable housing within your organization or group. Partnerships are also built to create housing strategic plans, incorporate services into existing housing programs, and a myriad of other collaborative efforts.
The Women's Institute partners with organizations and groups that seek to reverse the critical affordable housing shortage in our communities. This can include non-profit organizations, service providers, community groups, public agencies, for-profit developers, and others. We only ask that your group share the same commitment we have to creating housing and programs for the region's most vulnerable populations, and have the tenacity to answer the call to action. You need not be looking to specifically develop and own affordable housing within your organization or group. Partnerships are also built to create housing strategic plans, incorporate services into existing housing programs, and a myriad of other collaborative efforts.
Does the Women's Institute develop housing only for women?
We develop housing for many low-income individuals and families, not just women. We have developed housing, community facilities, and programs for women, men, families, seniors, youth, and many others. In embracing the original vision of our organization, we do prioritize opportunities to build housing that benefits women and women-headed households, as they are often the people and families most at risk for poverty and homelessness.
We develop housing for many low-income individuals and families, not just women. We have developed housing, community facilities, and programs for women, men, families, seniors, youth, and many others. In embracing the original vision of our organization, we do prioritize opportunities to build housing that benefits women and women-headed households, as they are often the people and families most at risk for poverty and homelessness.
Does the Women's Institute provide housing?
The Women's Institute is a housing developer - we build homes, apartments, and shelters. We do so in collaboration with service partners, who then provide housing to their constituents and communities. The Women's Institute does own a few properties. If you are seeking housing in:
The Women's Institute is a housing developer - we build homes, apartments, and shelters. We do so in collaboration with service partners, who then provide housing to their constituents and communities. The Women's Institute does own a few properties. If you are seeking housing in:
- New Bedford, MA - contact HallKeen Management, (affordable housing for low-income individuals and families)
More housing to come in the future!
Does the Women's Institute provide social services?
The Women's Institute partners with several service organizations in Massachusetts and Connecticut in regard to affordable and supportive housing; we do not provide social services ourselves.
The Women's Institute partners with several service organizations in Massachusetts and Connecticut in regard to affordable and supportive housing; we do not provide social services ourselves.
Does the Women's Institute provide consulting services to non-profit organizations that would like to develop housing?
Absolutely. We provide a full range of consulting services, including early planning and feasibility services, zoning and permitting, project design and financing, closing and construction management, and lease-up and operations. The Women's Institute works from the capacity point of our partners and clients, sharing and incorporating our expertise with the skills and vision of non-profit organizations. For more information about our services, please click here.
Absolutely. We provide a full range of consulting services, including early planning and feasibility services, zoning and permitting, project design and financing, closing and construction management, and lease-up and operations. The Women's Institute works from the capacity point of our partners and clients, sharing and incorporating our expertise with the skills and vision of non-profit organizations. For more information about our services, please click here.
Has the Women's Institute won any awards?
The Women's Institute has been nationally recognized for its affordable housing work. In 1999, we were awarded the Fannie Mae Maxwell Award of Excellence for GrandFamilies House, a multi-generational project uniquely designed to support low-income grandparents as they raise their grandchildren, a model that is now being replicated nationally.
The Women's Institute has been nationally recognized for its affordable housing work. In 1999, we were awarded the Fannie Mae Maxwell Award of Excellence for GrandFamilies House, a multi-generational project uniquely designed to support low-income grandparents as they raise their grandchildren, a model that is now being replicated nationally.
In 2006, we were once again the recipient of the Maxwell Award for Acushnet Commons, the rehabilitation of a historic school into family affordable housing with program services offered by our local partner. Additionally for Acushnet Commons, we were awarded the J. Timothy Anderson Award for Excellence in Historic Renovation through the National Housing and Rehabilitation Association.
Another project, Soromundi Commons, for which the Women's Institute served as the full development consultant on behalf of the YWCA of the Hartford Region, received the Enterprise Innovative Ventures Award in 2006, recognizing its unique redevelopment of the YWCA's formerly deteriorating housing tower into a full spectrum of housing options that includes permanent and transitional housing as well as an emergency shelter and associated program facilities.
How many projects has the Women's Institute completed?
The Women's Institute has worked with over 50 organizations to develop over 40 properties in Massachusetts and Connecticut. We are currently working with over a dozen partners to create over 350 units of affordable and supportive housing. In addition to developing real estate, the Women's Institute also provides planning, training, and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, community groups, public agencies, and others. For more information about our projects, pleaseclick here .
The Women's Institute has worked with over 50 organizations to develop over 40 properties in Massachusetts and Connecticut. We are currently working with over a dozen partners to create over 350 units of affordable and supportive housing. In addition to developing real estate, the Women's Institute also provides planning, training, and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, community groups, public agencies, and others. For more information about our projects, pleaseclick here .
How are the Women's Institute's projects financed?
Our projects are financed through a variety of federal, state, and local funding programs. For more information on financing sources, please click here.
Our projects are financed through a variety of federal, state, and local funding programs. For more information on financing sources, please click here.
Does the Women's Institute accept contributions?
Yes! While much of our real estate development work is funded from our projects, we have several initiatives for which we must fundraise each year. Corporate sponsors, foundations, and private donors all play a significant part in helping us offer a broad range of services, training, and programs to groups and organizations. For additional information on how to support our work, please click here.
Yes! While much of our real estate development work is funded from our projects, we have several initiatives for which we must fundraise each year. Corporate sponsors, foundations, and private donors all play a significant part in helping us offer a broad range of services, training, and programs to groups and organizations. For additional information on how to support our work, please click here.