Urban Groups Seek US Funds
March 18, 2009, The Boston Globe — The windows leak at the Mattapan Community Health Center, which serves thousands of people in one of Boston's most impoverished neighborhoods. The foundation of Freedom House in Dorchester is cracked so badly that water pours in and flows down a hallway when it rains. The elevator breaks once a month at Family Service of Greater Boston in Jamaica Plain, sometimes stranding the center's clients.
But while the state is laying plans to spend billions of federal dollars on highways and other infrastructure around the state, nothing so far has been set aside to fix up community centers in Boston that survive on a shoestring and are crucial to strengthening urban neighborhoods. There are few provisions of the federal legislation that specifically provide funds for such nonprofits, forcing groups to find creative ways to compete for the funding.
"We're trying to stay on the governor's case," said Hubie Jones, an activist who chairs a group advocating for federal stimulus money for nonprofits.
Jones recently submitted a list of projects, totaling $5.4 million, to fix up the facilities of five neighborhood nonprofit groups serving areas around Roxbury, North Dorchester, and Mattapan.
"I have no confidence that the governor even knows about this request and what we've been pursuing," Jones said. "This is just a fly on the hide of this whole thing."
Representatives of the nonprofit groups, who have met with administration officials - including Patrick's stimulus czar, Jeffrey Simon - say the organizations are vital to the community during a down economy, yet have serious physical infrastructure needs that jeopardize the delivery of services. The lobbying by community activists also spotlights the delicate relationship between the state's first black governor and city neighborhoods with large numbers of African-Americans.
While Patrick administration officials declined to discuss the issue, they said the governor's office has agreed to work with the nonprofits, with no guarantees.
"We are working to see which of the recovery funds could be used for such worthwhile projects, as long as they fulfill the governor's primary recovery goal of job creation," Simon, who declined a request for an interview, said in a statement.
The state is planning to use several billion federal dollars to pay for items ranging from basic sidewalk repairs to bridge construction. The state will get $760 million during the first wave of stimulus spending to dedicate to roads, bridges, and public transit. The Patrick administration announced last week the first eight road resurfacing and traffic sign replacement projects, totaling about $30 million and stretching across Massachusetts.
Meanwhile, Freedom House in Dorchester - which offers after-school programs, discussion groups, and provides meeting space for senior groups and churches - is asking for $68,329 to repair the building's foundation and prevent leaks. The water seeps into the girl's bathroom, flows down the hallway, and into the auditorium.
"The water just pours in; it's awful," said Gail Snowden, the organization's chief executive officer.
"It's small dollars, big impact," she added. "Our auditorium is used by students. We have a church group that's in here on Sundays and a senior group that meets twice a week. The ripple impact of the money supporting Freedom House is going to touch 1,000 people or more."
At Family Service of Greater Boston, which is asking for $800,000, the only elevator in the five-story building requires frequent repairs and breaks down once or twice a month.
"It immediately cuts back on our handicapped accessibility," said Sam Solomon, the center's director of development. "Our employees can take the stairs, but it is a problem when we have someone in the building who isn't able to walk up the stairs."
It is unclear what type of funds Patrick could distribute to the nonprofit groups.
Federal legislation provides funding for energy conservation and weatherization projects, which could be used for some of the infrastructure improvements. There are also community development block grants, which could be utilized for some of the nonprofits.
"Everyone is trying to figure out how to access these funds in an appropriate way," said Tim Delaney, president of the National Council of Nonprofits in Washington. "This is a common dilemma right now, as people try to learn what this complex package is, what the limitations are, what the possibilities might be."
Jones said he met last month with Simon and Doug Rubin, the governor's chief of staff.
"All they've said is, 'We're going to try to be helpful,' " Jones said. "I can't take that to the bank. I don't think this is on their high order of priorities right now. And I think it has to be."
