Neighborhood Housewarming 2007

Project: Winterize homes and install new windows for Boston's most vulnerable home owners
Partners: Bank of America, National Grid, City of Boston, John Hancock, New England Regional Council of Carptenters
Date: December 7, 2007

Just in time for the cold arrival of winter, Dorchester homeowner Janet Bailey received an energy-saving gift — brand new windows throughout her house.

On December 7, YBB staged its fifth annual Neighborhood Housewarming. More than 170 volunteers installed 16 new windows in two homes, including Bailey’s home, and insulated more than 600 drafty windows in 78 homes of low income and elderly Bostonians, all free of charge.

“It is exciting to have partners like these that pull together to hit the streets and make people’s lives a little easier at this tough time of year. It is also a great experience for our trainees whenever they can apply their skills and provide a real service directly to their neighbors,” said Ken Smith, YouthBuild Boston’s Executive Director.

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YouthBuild Boston, Bank of America, KeySpan/National Grid, 500 Women & Youth Build, and the City of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development (DND), teamed up for this year’s event. KeySpan/National Grid provided a $5,000 grant to cover all new windows and supplies for the event. Bank of America, 500 Women & Youth Build, and the City of Boston supplied the volunteers to get the job done. The homes serviced were located primarily in Dorchester, Roxbury, and Hyde Park.

For many New England residents – especially seniors – winter means the burden of high-energy costs and sacrificing food or medicine in order to keep the heat on. Thanks to Friday’s Neighborhood Housewarming, 80 Boston homes won’t face as many of those tough decisions this year. The work done on Friday will yield an average savings of 10-12% on the homeowners’ energy bills.

“Energy costs are a concern for all of us this winter.  As a long-standing member of the community, we are very pleased to support the Neighborhood Housewarming program,” said Bruce Johnson, director of Energy Efficiency Implementation at National Grid.  "Not only do customers lower utility bills and save energy, they also are helping to mitigate climate change by reducing energy consumption.  Plus, youth learn the importance of giving to community and the value of being energy efficient.”

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation also presented a $75,000 grant to YouthBuild Boston to help the organization continue to improve opportunities for Boston’s youths.  A portion of the grant focuses on increasing environmentally responsible practices within YBB’s construction projects and training programs.

“Bank of America is pleased to work with the City of Boston, YouthBuild Boston and others to help those in need during the winter season,"  said Brian Moynihan, President, Global Corporate and Investment Banking, Bank of America. "Through volunteering at events like Neighborhood Housewarming 2007 and providing financial support, we hope to ease the burden on vulnerable communities while also encouraging environmentally-friendly energy conservation."

Bank of America is a long-time YBB supporter, providing volunteers to weatherize homes in the area for the last five years. The partnership has since grown to include other organizations such as 500 Women & Youth Build, and KeySpan/National Grid.

“Bank of America is a big part of YouthBuild Boston. We benefit in so many ways from their relationship. And now with this grant they are helping to drive our green building and training initiative. This grant will help us build green homes as well as send our graduates into the workforce already familiar with the green building, which is the future of their industry,” said Ken Smith, Executive Director of YouthBuild Boston.