Josephine McNeil, Co-Founder and Executive Director of CAN-DO has received a 2023 Community Advocacy Award and award grant from the Eastern Bank Foundation for CAN-DO’s role in helping low and very low income residents of Newton access affordable housing and get access to the services they need to achieve more financial security and housing stability. She is one of twelve such honorees this year from eastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
CAN-DO (Citizens for Affordable Housing in Newton Development Organization) partners with local human service organizations and citizen groups to identify and reach out to people, especially families, at the highest risk of housing insecurity, to work with them one-on-one. Under Josephine’s leadership, CAN-DO developed approximately 50 units of housing for people with developmental disabilities, survivors of domestic violence, veterans, and homeless families. Most recently, CAN-DO has mobilized a team of volunteers to help residents file 2021 tax returns to access funds still due to them under the child tax credit program included in the 2021 COVID-19 American Rescue Plan.
Commenting on affordable housing issues and this award, Josephine said, “It’s not enough to house people on the brink. Helping stabilize their lives with hands-on services so they can successfully sustain housing and access ongoing economic and social resources is critical – especially in cities that might seem, on the surface, to lack economic hardship. Awards like this are so deeply appreciated and important for raising awareness .”