Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/1465065
18 NeighborWorks ® Housing Solutions (NHS) is a one-stop organization that provides affordable housing, education, resources and assistance to individuals and families throughout the South Shore and South Coast, including veterans, families, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the elderly and formerly homeless individuals. NeighborWorks ® of Southern Massachusetts, a Quincy-based nonprofit founded in 1981, and Housing Solutions, a Kingston- based nonprofit founded in 1970, officially merged on July 1, 2019 after years of collaboration and partnership. By officially coming together, NHS grew not only in size but also capacity, and can now deliver high quality, impactful programs and administer increased funding opportunities to households and businesses throughout the South Shore and South Coast. This merger became even more critical in 2020, as pandemic-related shutdowns caused major disruptions in the local economy, especially in the service, retail and restaurant industries. NHS went from serving 12,000 households annually to more than 20,000 households in 2021. TOOLS FOR SUSTAINABILITY & SUCCESS NHS and its partners have helped administer the state's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funding, which helps people who are behind on rent. Preventing evictions benefits not only the tenants, but also the landlords. During 2021, NHS and its partners administered more than $2M in funding per week through the state's ERAP program, preserving tenancy for thousands of households throughout the region and helping families stay safe, healthy and at home. Maintaining stable housing has a tremendous impact on the entire family, especially children. In 2021, many children were attending school remotely and eviction would have disrupted their ability to learn. NHS continues to provide grant funds and counseling to households facing eviction or foreclosure, helping to maintain housing stability in the region. To further promote stability and encourage a pathway for economic mobility, NHS operates the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. The FSS program is a three-to-five-year program that identifies families who currently receive a section-8 voucher but OPENING DOORS AND CHANGING LIVES FOR MORE THAN 20,000 HOUSEHOLDS: NeighborWorks ® Housing Solutions Provides Critical Resources and Assistance to the Most Vulnerable in our Community. Written by Robin Young