Boston–Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (MBHP) and Roxbury Community College (RCC) are pleased to announce their new partnership.  This partnership will launch with an Affordable Housing Workshop on Monday, October 19, 2015 at 11:00 am, at Roxbury Community College.

“RCC is committed to removing the obstacles that prevent our students from completing their studies,” says RCC president, Dr. Valerie Roberson.  “This new partnership, in conjunction with the current services offered by Single Stop, will provide our students with significant assistance in overcoming this all-too-common barrier.”

“We are excited to bring MBHP services to the students of Roxbury Community College,” said MBHP Director of Housing Supports Kate Fulton. “Through this partnership, we are able to take our housing counseling services on the road, making it even easier for students to get the help they need.”

At the Affordable Housing Workshop, Zeke Russell and Matthew Gibson from MBHP will speak with students about the housing resources currently available.  RCC students will also receive instruction on how to apply for those resources with assistance from Lisa Carter, director of Single Stop at RCC.

“The affordable housing world can be very confusing to people who are new to it,” said Zeke Russell, MBHP’s colocation coordinator. “We are looking forward to demystifying the process for any RCC students who need help finding housing they can afford.”

“On a daily basis, I meet with students who need significant assistance in securing adequate housing,” says Lisa Carter.  “Partnerships like this give me access to services that I wouldn’t be able to secure, on my own. I look forward to this long-term partnership, as I’m sure it will result in substantive benefits for so many RCC students.”

Soon after this partnership launch, MBPH staff members will begin visiting RCC’s campus regularly to meet one-on-one with RCC students.  This on-campus presence will help to assure that all students have access to resources to help meet their housing needs.

“Housing and education go hand-in-hand as the basis upon which people can build their lives and ensure brighter futures,” said Representative Jeffrey Sánchez. “I am so pleased to see MBHP and Roxbury Community College coming together to make sure that students get the housing counseling they need while focusing on their studies.”

Founded in 1973, Roxbury Community College (RCC) is a comprehensive, multicultural, urban, student-centered, an open-access community college.  An Achieving the Dream Leader college accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), RCC offers an associates in arts degree program, an associates in science degree program, certificate programs, online courses, various corporate and community education programs and lifelong learning programs.  Located at 1234 Columbus Avenue, our 16-acre, 6 building campus houses classrooms, specialized science and computer laboratories, the Library and Learning Center, an on-site day care center, the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center and the Media Arts Center.

Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (MBHP) is a leading nonprofit dedicated to connecting the residents of Greater Boston with safe, decent homes they can afford. MBHP empowers families and individuals to move along the continuum from homelessness to housing stability. Serving more than 20,000 households annually, MBHP works seamlessly to bridge the gaps among government, nonprofits, and corporations to continually increase their impact. With more than 30 years’ experience piloting and implementing housing programs, MBHP is an industry-leading expert on navigating the affordable housing field. For more information, visit www.mbhp.org, facebook.com/MBHPHome, or follow MBHP on Twitter at @MBHPhousing.