“68 Homes” Secures Critical State Funding to Protect Affordable Housing in Hyde Park and Roslindale

Southwest Boston CDC and Dorchester Bay EDC partner to preserve affordability and improve housing conditions in two Boston neighborhoods 

BOSTON, MA — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced funding for the 68 Homes Preservation and Rehabilitation Project—a scattered-site initiative that will protect long-term affordability and improve living conditions across eight buildings in Hyde Park and Roslindale. 

The effort—led by Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation and co-developed with Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation—has been years in the making. It models how mission-aligned CDCs can partner to expand capacity for affordable housing preservation and anti-displacement efforts.  

The 68 Homes project involves the rehabilitation of eight buildings across multiple sites, delivering long-needed upgrades including energy-efficiency improvements and accessibility features. Of the 68 units, 67 will remain affordable to households earning less than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI), with 22 of those units reserved for households earning below 30% AMI. Four apartments will be upgraded to meet full accessibility standards.  

“Southwest Boston CDC was proud to be the first developer to use the City of Boston’s Acquisition Opportunity Program to preserve the affordability of these units and we are grateful to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) for this new round of funding,” said Mary Celeste Brown, Interim Executive Director of Southwest Boston CDC. “Since acquiring these 68 apartments over the last nine years, Southwest Boston CDC has been committed to building the equitable, affordable, healthy and vibrant community our members have been working toward for over twenty years.” 

“Preserving affordability isn’t just about keeping rents low. It’s about ensuring people can remain rooted in the communities they’ve helped build,” said Kimberly R. Lyle, CEO of Dorchester Bay EDC. “As co-developer, Dorchester Bay is committed to leveraging its experience and strength to help move this project forward in alignment with community priorities. Our partnership with Southwest Boston CDC with support from the EOHLC reflects what’s possible when mission-driven organizations work together across neighborhoods to advance just housing solutions with urgency and care.” 

The acquisition of this portfolio was made possible by critical financing from the Mayor’s Office of Housing, Blue Hub Capital, The Property and Casualty Initiative (PCI), The Life Initiative (TLI), and First Citizen’s Bank. The launch of the project was made possible through financing from the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC).  

The partnership between Dorchester Bay EDC and Southwest Boston CDC comes at a time when the need to preserve affordable housing has never been more urgent. Massachusetts lost more than 163,000 affordable rental homes between 2010 and 2020, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies (2024). Both organizations view this project as a part of a broader commitment to reverse this trend and preserve affordable units while preventing displacement in Boston neighborhoods. 

About Southwest Boston CDC
Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation works with partners to build and sustain a thriving, economically diverse community in Hyde Park, Roslindale and parts of Mattapan. We work to prevent displacement, particularly of low- and moderate-income families and elderly residents, create and preserve affordable housing, strengthen the commercial base of the neighborhoods, ensure access to good transit, protect conservation land and waterways and promote climate resiliency. We are committed to creating more equitable neighborhoods. 

About Dorchester Bay EDC
DBEDC is a Community Development Corporation (CDC) and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Founded in 1979, we work to build a strong, thriving, and diverse community in Boston’s Dorchester and Roxbury neighborhoods. We develop and preserve housing across income levels, create and sustain economic development opportunities for businesses and individuals, and build community through organizing, civic engagement, and leadership development.