Roxbury Tenants of Harvard Association, Inc. and Brigham and Women’s Hospital Program Agreement and Community Assessment

1. Roxbury Tenants of Harvard Association, Inc.and Brigham and Women’s HospitalProgram Agreement and Community Assessment Review

2. Historical Background • In September 2001 RTH entered into an agreement with Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) for a mutually beneficial end result where BWH, in exchange for full control of the Binney-Vining Block across the street from the Hospital, transferred ownership to RTH of additional property in the neighborhood.

3. Historical Background • Through this agreement, RTH agreed to move 6 of the Restoration buildings, and added to its holdings 4 houses, the block of apartments and stores at 733-745 Huntington, the lot where the bowling alley was, 3 empty house lots and the 22 apartments at the corner of Huntington and St. Albans Road subject to a 29-year ground lease. In addition to this land and these buildings, RTH entered into a community benefits Program Agreement with BWH and Partners Healthcare. Under this Agreement, BWH is providing programs, services and the financial support to implement them.

4. Historical Background • Program Agreement • Main focus for programs is health/wellness and education/training (copy of Agreement available) • Part of the Program Agreement is conducting a Community Assessment. This is a Needs and Assets Assessment to better understand what residents desire and need and what resources already exist.

5. Program Agreement • Community Assessment • In May of 2002, 8 RTH residents were hired as Community Liaisons who were diverse in age, first language, race and neighborhood. After a series of trainings, their job was to conduct the Assessment whereby they would: *Facilitate focus groups *Interview key leaders in the community *Create a list of community resources *Input all data into a database • Focus groups were transcribed and coded

6. Program Agreement • Community Assessment • In the summer of 2003, a new group of 7 Resident Community Liaisons were hired and 1 Liaison from 2002 continued. • After training, their job was to: *Create presentations with information from individual focus groups based on analysis *Facilitate follow-up focus groups and get feedback from participants • Participants who could not come to the follow-up meeting were sent all information and were asked for their feedback

7. Roxbury Tenants of Harvard Association, Inc./Brigham and Women’s Hospital Community Assessment Presentation Prepared by RTH Residents Jeudi Bell Tanyshia Graves Susanna Minasyan Mary Chau Roxanne Haecker Beverly Moss Sofiya Deych Helen Hui and Milly Diaz Adam Jenkins Anne Vinick, Director of Resident Svcs, RTH Vicky Galinovskaya Krystal Jenkins and Jo-Ann GatelySherina Mayo The Office of Women, Family and Community Programs, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

8. Roxbury Tenants of Harvard Association, Inc./Brigham and Women’s Hospital Community Assessment Results

9. Health Issues • Resources available • Hospitals in the area • Health Insurance Plans Brigham and Women’s Hospital 3. On-site Health screenings On-site Foot Doctor

10. Health Issues cont. • Health problems facing the community • Asthma • Mental health issues Smoking 3. Access to Care Drugs 4. Multilingual information on health issues Exercise facility, machines

11. Health Issues cont. • Programs that would help • Health Education Programs • HIV/Sex Education/Pregnancy Prevention • Substance Abuse/Drug Programs • Multilingual Information Support Groups Exercise Facility

12. Education and Job Opportunities • Resources available • RTH Computer Center • Tutoring/Homework Help • Scholarships ESOL Job Assistance Betty Powers Library

13. Education/Job Opportunities cont. • Barriers to a Good Education and/or Job • Financial Constraints • Scheduling/Lack of Time Access to Training/Job Opportunities Childcare English Language Ability 3. Racism/Ageism Skipping School

14. Education/Job Opportunities cont. • Resources and programs that would help • Job Skills Trainings (resume writing, interviewing, job search skills, etc…) • GED/High School Diploma Program Computer Center Improvements English Language Classes Job/Vocational Training Tutoring/Mentoring Program 3. Scholarships Jobs for Youth

15. Education/Job Opportunities cont. • Resources and programs that would help cont. 4. LMA Hiring Within Mission Hill Central Location with Job Information Job/Career Fairs Multilingual Trainings and Information about job opportunities Betty Powers Library improvements

16. Security/Safety • Issues and Concerns • Teenager’s Behavior Lax Security 2. Unsafe Feelings 3. Sleeping/Loitering in hallways of buildings

17. Security/Safety cont. • Suggestions • Patrol More Frequently • Better Lighting Outside to Discourage Crime 3. Curfew for Teens Parents accountable for children’s behavior Security in Buildings

18. Environmental/Maintenance • Issues/Concerns 1. Garbage Rodents/Roaches 2. Maintenance Call Response Time Elevators Dirty Environment 3. Vandalism

19. Environmental/Maintenance cont. • Suggestions • Posting in different languages about rules Need for weekend cleaning Better triage for maintenance calls Better communication with/information for residents

20. Recreation • Available Resources • RTH Swimming Pool • Parties/Neighborhood Festivals Basketball 3. Grocery Shopping Transportation for Seniors General Programming

21. Recreation cont. • Suggestions • Indoor Gymnasium and Pool • Arts and Crafts Class • Free Tickets to Local Events • More Programs for Adults Organized Trips Sewing/Crochet Class

22. Community Concerns 1.Positive Role Models Needed Language Barriers Residents not feeling properly informed about policies, programs and available services 2. Lack of Prompt Response to Problems Residents Not Having a Voice Neville Building Viewed as “Bad” ONRA/Restoration Housing Issues

23. What residents like about the RTH community • Convenience of Location • Safety of Neighborhood/Security Services • The People/Neighbors RTH Swimming Pool 4. After-School Program On-Site