March 7, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mass. Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach keynotes
MBHP property owner event; Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez honored
On Tuesday, March 6, the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (MBHP) honored the property owners and
management companies who provide housing for MBHP tenants. The theme of the event was Healthy Homes.
Joining MBHP to thank these owners for their dedication to providing safe, decent housing for MBHP rental
assistance tenants was Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach. In his keynote
address to the crowded room of property owners, Auerbach, a resident of Jamaica Plain, spoke of the links between
housing and public health. “Housing is most definitely a public health issue,” said Auerbach, “You all might not
think that as property owners you were in the public health business, but you certainly are.” Auerbach spoke at
length about the importance of keeping properties safe and clean, citing public health issues stemming from asthma
triggers, lead, mold, pests and other dangers.
Representative Jeffrey Sánchez was one of the three honorees of the evening. Sánchez was recognized for his
work championing the city of Boston’s Healthy Homes initiative, including his efforts to educate residents on
reducing asthma triggers and other hazards in the home. Accepting the award, Sánchez told the crowd about the
changes he has seen in his lifetime surrounding the intersection of public health and housing issues. “When I was
growing up in Mission Hill, there was always somebody sick with asthma, and no one seemed to care. Now with
organizations like MBHP and the Boston Public Health Commission shedding light on these issues, we’re starting to
see some changes,” said Sánchez, “MBHP has been an asset to so many people. I am honored to accept this award.”
During the event, MBHP also honored two property owners/managers who have gone above and beyond for their
tenants. They included:
- Amy Lowell Apartments of Boston’s West End (an apartment complex)
- Mariaan Sewnanan of Dorchester (owning a small private unit)
The event was hosted by Bank of America.
Included in the photo are (left to right) Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez, MBHP Executive Director Chris Norris, and Mass.
Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach.
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MBHP is the state’s largest regional provider of rental housing voucher assistance. We serve homeless, elderly,
disabled, and low- and moderate-income individuals and families. Our region spans Boston and 29 surrounding
communities: Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Braintree Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett,
Lexington, Lynn, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Milton, Newton, North Reading, Quincy, Reading, Revere,
Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop and Woburn.
Our mission is to ensure that the region’s low- and moderate-income individuals and families have choice and
mobility in finding and retaining decent affordable housing; all of our programs and initiatives are designed to
encourage housing stability, increase economic self-sufficiency, and enhance quality of the lives of those we
serve. To achieve our mission and to promote efficient service delivery, we work collaboratively with a broad array
of service providers and neighborhood-based organizations.
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