Organization Time Line
1991 |
Seven women come together to form the "Committee to End Elder Homelessness" to solve the growing crisis of older Americans becoming homeless. |
1992 |
In 1992, we opened our first home, a Victorian-style shared-living program at 4 Bishop Street in Jamaica Plain for nine homeless elder women. |
1995 |
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded a three-year contract to Hearth in 1995 for Outreach, Case Management, and Housing Placement Services. This marked the formal beginnings of Hearth's Outreach Program. |
1997 |
The award-winning Anna Bissonnette House in Boston's South End opened its doors in 1997. Donated by Boston Medical Center, the building that was once Boston's Aerated Bread Factory - and later a warehouse - became home to 40 elders who live in 22 studio and 18 one-bedroom apartments. |
2000 |
In 2000, we opened the Ruth Cowin House for nine homeless men and women in Brookline. The rehabbed brownstone received the Brookline Preservation Society Award in 2001. |
2001 |
In October 2001, the 43-unit Ruggles Affordable Assisted Living Community opened in Dudley Square Roxbury. It is the first assisted living facility in Boston targeted exclusively for low-income and frail elders. |
2002 |
In early 2002, ElderHouse opened in Uphams Corner Dorchester. Part of a mixed-use development including residential and retail units, ElderHouse provides fourteen fully furnished studio apartments for formerly homeless elders. |
2005 |
In February, The Bishop Street house received an Extreme Home Makeover: Boston Edition. In the spring, The American Society on Aging awarded CEEH with the Healthcare and Aging Award. Then, in September, our name changed from The Committee to End Elder Homelessness (CEEH), to Hearth. |
2006 |
In March, Hearth received the 2006 Leadership Award from the National Alliance to End Homelessness. In September, Mark D. Hinderlie became President and CEO. Then, in December, Hearth opened up a new residence: Hearth at Burroughs Street in Jamaica Plain. |
2007 |
Citizens Bank named Hearth as the 2007 winner of its Housing Hero Award "for its commitment to ensuring the elderly community has a safe and affordable place to call home." |
2009 |
The Hearth Outreach Program is named a 2009 Social Innovator by the Social Innovation Forum. |
2010 |
The Hearth Outreach Program expands, adding a two new caseworkers and also working with at-risk elders. |
2011 |
It's Hearth's 20th Anniversary! Construction on Hearth at Olmsted Green begins. The Bishop Street House is named the Elsie Frank house. The National Leadership Initiative to End Elder Homelessness gets underway. Citizens Bank names Hearth one of its 2011 Champions in Action. |
2012 |
Hearth at Olmsted Green officially opens on June 8th. |
For additional information on our housing sites, see Hearth Housing.