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The Home for Little Wanderers Teams Up with WCVB-TV and Alinea Capital Partners for Extreme Makeover: My Hometown Roxbury Village to Provide Stable Housing and Support for Young Adults The Home for Little Wanderers, WCVB-TV, and Alinea Capital Partners LLC, are set to unveil a year-long renovation project that will open doors of opportunity to a group of young people in Boston age 18-22. Those who will benefit are about to be discharged from state systems of care, or have already left the system, and currently are or are at risk for being homeless. At a ribbon cutting this June 2012, community partners will celebrate the opening of The Home’s new Roxbury Village program in Dudley Square. The development of the project will be the subject of WCVB-TV’s “Extreme Makeover: My Hometown” — a local version of ABC’s Emmy award winning program “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” The Home for Little Wanderers’ President and CEO Joan Wallace-Benjamin explained that this is an exciting time for the child welfare agency. “The opening of Roxbury Village is an example of how The Home is not only providing housing for the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable young people, but preparing them for meaningful and productive lives in the community,” she said. “Roxbury Village marks a new opportunity for a population of young adults who typically experience higher rates of negative outcomes, including being homeless or unemployed.” Located on Alpine Street in a formerly foreclosed property acquired by Developer L. Duane Jackson of Alinea Capital Partners LLC, Roxbury Village will provide three apartments for nine young people working towards independence. In addition to stable housing, Roxbury Village offers intensive services, support and community connections to help residents build the resources and skills they need to become self-sufficient, productive adults. The program will be run by The Home for Little Wanderers, while Alinea Capital Partners will manage the building. The Home hopes Roxbury Village will serve as a model for other organizations to help the nearly 600 youth who age out of state care each year, typically between the ages of 18-22. Many have never been adopted or reunited with their biological families and very few are fully ready for independent living without additional support and guidance. “WCVB chose to support Roxbury Village because it will provide a unique opportunity for the community to support these young adults through life coaching, career, and education planning,” said Karen Holmes Ward, Director Public Affairs and Community Services, WCVB-TV. “Additionally, since the house is situated in the revitalized Dudley Square neighborhood, these young people will be able to take advantage of the numerous services available nearby which will help them to succeed.” WCVB-TV joins a team of generous in-kind supporters including Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture, Anderson Insulation, Icynene, Inc., NEWPRO, and O’LYN Roofing Contractors. Alinea Capital Partners received funding from the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development and the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) and Century Bank for renovations. The Home for Little Wanderers has raised additional funds from private funders for rent, food and furnishing expenses. About WCVB-TV
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