Brighton, MA–Brighton Marine, a veteran network community, has been awarded $250,000 by The Home Depot Foundation to help with construction costs in a first-in-the-nation affordable housing project for veterans. The funds, distributed by Home Depot’s Veteran Housing Grants Program, are awarded to nonprofit organizations that are building or rehabilitating housing for veterans.
“The confidence Home Depot has shown in our project confirms the value of our mission with The Residences at Brighton Marine – to create affordable housing integrated with our veterans network community,” said Michael Dwyer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Brighton Marine. “The Residences represent a national model, offering permanent housing for an independent population of veterans.”
“We’re proud to partner with Brighton Marine on this ambitious and much needed initiative,” said Erica Headlee of the Home Depot Veteran Housing Grants Program. “We share a mission – to help improve the lives of those who have served our country, and The Residences go a long way in helping do just that.”
Brighton Marine broke ground on The Residences on June 18th, 2018, and is partnering with WinnCompanies, one of the nation’s largest military housing managers. The Residences at Brighton Marine are being built on Brighton Marine’s campus along Commonwealth Avenue, providing apartments at all income ranges in a transit-oriented location for qualifying veterans and their families who want, but cannot afford, to both live and work in Boston. Mixed income housing of any type has not been developed on this scale in Boston specifically for veterans since World War II. Construction at the 1.44-acre site is scheduled for completion by December 2019.
“This project is intended to honor and support the potential of veterans as they transition into a new career post military service,” said Bill Perry, chairman of Brighton Marine’s Board of Directors. “Unlike other national initiatives, the Residences will be providing wrap around support – including clinical, wellness and behavioral health services – to both veterans and their families, recognizing the realities faced by the entire family as veterans pursue college and new careers.”
A vital social service presence since 1940, Brighton Marine’s mission is steeped in the battlefield creed now being used at home – not leaving anyone behind. With a goal of serving as a one-stop network hub for resources for veterans and their families, Brighton Marine hosts 10 organizations that provide medical care and health services for military, veterans and non-military personnel. Along with helping veterans and their families find housing, Brighton Marine serves as the coordination center for electronic referrals from software that connects veteran service providers to coordinate care virtually, track outcomes, improve access, increase collaboration, and enables communities to provide more comprehensive levels of service. Lastly, Brighton Marine is heavily invested in the community – providing support to local high school students, partnering with other local veteran-based organizations, the Red Cross and Toys for Tots, and funding beautification projects in Brighton.
