We have a housing crisis in our region.
We need your help desperately.
Dear Friends and Supporters of JFS,
As is the case throughout the Commonwealth, the MetroWest region is facing a deepening affordable housing crisis that’s putting immense pressure on low- and moderate-income residents. A 2022 MetroWest Health Foundation report revealed that in many local communities, a family of four earning the median income and aiming to spend no more than 30% of their income on housing could afford fewer than one in ten homes, and less than one in four two-bedroom rental units.
This widening affordability gap has real consequences. In the first half of 2022 alone, nearly 300 eviction filings occurred in Framingham and Marlborough. Statewide, 9,663 eviction filings were recorded in the quarter ending September 30, 2023. During the same period, the Framingham District Court reported 38 filings – more evidence of localized housing instability.
The Massachusetts Housing Partnership’s Housing Stability Monitor further highlights this trend: from April to September 2024, Framingham’s eviction filing rate reached 31.5 per 1,000 renter households, nearly double the statewide average.
These numbers underscore an urgent need for targeted, community-based solutions.
Among those most affected are older adults, many experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness for the first time. A spouse’s death or a sudden rent increase can quickly tip those with limited savings or support into housing precarity.
JFS’s Innovative Response: Two Pilot Programs
To address this crisis, JFS of Metrowest has launched two groundbreaking pilot programs focused on increasing housing stability for older adults while fostering community-based, multigenerational solutions.
Older Adult Home-Share Program
This program matches older adults seeking affordable housing with homeowners who have extra space. Through dedicated caseworkers and trained volunteers, JFS provides comprehensive support to ensure a successful and safe match. We collaborate with local senior centers, Councils on Aging, and community organizations to identify participants and raise awareness.
Caseworkers provide ongoing support even after placement, assisting with conflict resolution, accessing public benefits, and connecting participants with health and social services. This program prevents eviction, promotes stability, and improves quality of life for both homeowners (hosts) and renters (guests).
ADU Planning & Navigation Pilot
Many older adults want to age in place, but rising maintenance costs, care needs, and fixed incomes make this difficult. JFS’s ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) Planning & Navigation pilot program helps homeowners assess and convert underutilized areas of their homes—like basements or garages—into rental units or caregiver spaces.
These ADUs can generate rental income or house live-in caregivers, allowing older adults to remain safely in their homes. The program, grounded in Jewish values of kavod ziknei yisrael (honoring our elders), areyvut (mutual responsibility), and rachmanut (compassion), also supports marginalized renters—immigrants, refugees, and people of color—by expanding affordable housing options and encouraging inclusive, multigenerational communities.
JFS partners with municipalities, lenders, and community organizations to reduce costs, offer low- or no-interest loans, and provide technical assistance, making these projects feasible for older adults.
Your Support Makes These Solutions Possible
At JFS, we believe in dignity for all, and we recognize that safe, affordable housing is essential to upholding that dignity. These pilot programs show what’s possible when we come together with compassion and purpose.
You can help us expand this work. With your support, we can serve more older adults, prevent more evictions, and foster a more connected and equitable community.
Please make your gift today to help JFS lead the way in housing innovation and aging with dignity.
Together, we can ensure that no one in our community faces housing insecurity alone.
Sincerely,
Ian Rubin, Board President Lino Covarrubias, CEO
P.S. Every dollar you give helps prevent eviction, create safe housing for older adults, and build a more compassionate, connected community. Please give today—your support matters more than ever.
JFS’ sound fiscal management practices and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a multi-year 4-star rating from Charity Navigator (with a perfect score of 100% – less than one-tenth of 1% of charities rated earn a perfect score!) so you can have confidence that your donation will drive change and make a difference.
