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Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.
Helping people out of poverty.
Facts
Social Media
www.facebook.com/BostonABCD
www.twitter.com/bostonabcd
http://www.youtube.com/abcdboston1
part 1/3
Incorporation
ABCD was incorporated on July 24, 1962, as part of a Ford Foundation demonstration project that preceded the War on
Poverty. Subsequently ABCD became Boston’s federally-designated antipoverty, community action agency. ABCD has
pioneered many important innovations in service, launching one of the nation’s first Community Health Centers, shaping
the precursor of the WIC program, and piloting independent alternative schools. As ABCD has grown it has continued to
innovate.
ABCD Mission
ABCD’s mission is to empower low-income people by providing them with the tools to overcome poverty, live with dignity,
and achieve their full potential.
ABCD Board & Community Leadership
ABCD is guided by representatives of Boston’s communities. The ABCD Board of Directors’ 48 members includes elected
officials, representatives from local businesses and industries, and low-income community members representing
Boston’s neighborhoods. Low-income residents make up the majority of board members. Each of ABCD’s neighborhood
centers is also advised by a local elected Board. Additionally, ABCD partnered with 2,700 community organizations,
businesses, agencies, and other partners.
ABCD’s Capacity
Proven over time, offering reliable, high quality and much-needed programs.
•
Celebrating over 50 years of service to low-income residents of Boston. Innovative and flexible, leveraging scope
and stability to address emerging need.
•
Pioneering programs throughout our history, and in the past 5 years, focusing on innovation and establishing
many groundbreaking programs. Highly accountable, operating under prudent organizational and financial
practices.
•
Management of over 130 contracts with state, local and Federal governments as well as private foundations
•
Sophisticated fiscal and operations infrastructure, including agency-wide client tracking and outcomes
management systems.
Contact
John J. Drew, President/CEO: 617.348.6201......................................................... [email protected]
Sharon Scott-Chandler, Executive Vice President: 617.348.6280 ........................ [email protected]
Josh Young, Director of Legislative Affairs: 617.348.6553 ..................................... [email protected]
Isabel Garcia, Director of Public Information: 617.348.6243 .................................. [email protected]
Christina Sieber, Director of Institutional Advancement: 617.348.6219 ................ [email protected]
Central Office
178 Tremont Street, Boston MA 02111
|
Website
www.bostonabcd.org
General Contact Info
| P: (617) 348-6000 | TTY: (617) 423-9215 | F: (617) 357-6041
John P. McGahan, Chair; Joan Cirillo, Vice Chair; Marie Greig, Vice Chair; Yvonne Jones, Vice Chair; Andres Molina, Vice Chair;
Patricia Washington, Vice Chair; Jean M. Babcock, Treasurer; Julia Hardy Cofield, Esq., Clerk; John J. Drew, President/CEO
Mar. 2015
Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.
Helping people out of poverty.
Facts
part 2/3
178 Tremont Street, Boston MA 02111
www.bostonabcd.org
P: (617) 348-6000
TTY: (617) 423-9215
F: (617) 357-6041
ABCD’s Services
ABCD provides services at its central offices and through a citywide network of neighborhood-based service centers.
ABCD programs and services assist low-income residents of Boston to stabilize and improve their lives, and move out of
poverty. In 2014 these services reached 101,951 low-income individuals and 68,401 households, and included:
•
Energy Assistance: Assisted 20,109 households apply for LIHEAP, provided 22,000 households with costeffective efficiency improvement or replacement opportunities, helped 1,334 lower their energy bills with
weatherization services and heating system upgrades and 2,226 single family households received appliance
audits and product upgrades.
•
Housing & Homelessness Prevention Services: Helped 48 families prevent foreclosure, provided housing
assistance and stabilization services to 951, provided 58 homeless families with emergency shelter, supported 55
with emergency rent or mortgage assistance, and helped 517 obtain or maintain housing.
•
Food Security: Provided 23,000 meals to Head Start children every week, reached 2,972 families through
emergency food pantries, distributing 738,211 pounds of food and helped 105 obtain Food Stamp benefits.
•
Health Services: Reached 26,598 individuals with disease prevention and reproductive health care. Helped 218
obtain health insurance. 2,090 pre-schoolers, infants, and toddlers received medical and dental screenings.
•
Education & Career Development for Adults: Reached 44 adults with ABE/GED services and 826 with ESOL
courses. 138 students graduated with Associates Degrees or certificates. Provided 473 with job assistance, and
helped 249 obtain jobs.
•
Immigration Services: Helped 715 individuals complete US citizenship applications, assisted 208 individuals
obtain US citizenship and 9 individuals obtain permanent residency.
•
Youth Programs: Educated 125 youth in alternative high schools and connected 1,082 with summer and 21 with
year-round employment.
•
Elder Services: Helped 556 seniors maintain independent lives through case management and other services.
167 seniors received hot meals and snacks and 391 seniors received food through the Senior Brown Bag
Program. 180 senior participated in exercise and wellness classes and 173 participated in activities that reduced
social isolation.
•
Early Childhood Education & Care: Reached 3,467 pre-schoolers, infants, and toddlers with Head Start. Helped
8,634 families access child care through referral and voucher programs.
•
Asset Development: Helped 4,846 households with free tax assistance, returning $7,318,568 to poor
communities in refunds and Earned Income Tax Credit.
•
Volunteer Support: 744 volunteers donated 21,870 hours to ABCD and our customers which allowed ABCD to
provide an additional $349,920.
•
Holiday Joy: Holiday toys were given to 5,700 children. Provided 561 families with 9,931 pounds of food for the
holidays through the Holiday Meals Program. 58 families participated in the ABCD Adopt-A-Family program.
•
Signature Events: Winter Emergency Campaign, Holiday Toys and Adopt-A-Family Campaigns, Field of Dreams,
Hoop Dreams, and Community Awards Dinner.
Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.
Helping people out of poverty.
Facts
part 3/3
75
%
IN FY2014, ABCD SERVED
101,951
CUSTOMERS
ABCD CUSTOMERS’ GENDER BREAKDOWN
24
75
OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT
RECEIVE SERVICES AT
ABCD ARE WORKING POOR
ABCD CUSTOMERS’ AGE BREAKDOWN
13.4%
0-5 YRS
.2%
46.7 %
MALE
4.5%
6-11 YRS
7.8%
12-17 YRS
12.3%
18-23 YRS
35.5 %
24-44 YRS
.8%
of low-income ABCD families
are headed by single mothers
FEMALE
45-54 YRS
11.4 %
55-69 YRS
8.8%
6.4%
70+ YRS
ABCD CUSTOMERS’ RACIAL AND ETHNIC BREAKDOWN
BLACK /
AFRICAN AMERICAN
36 %
WHITE
HAIWAIIAN /
PACIFIC ISLANDER
ASIAN
18.4 % 18 %
HISPANIC
AMERICAN INDIAN /
ALASKAN NATIVE
.3 %
MULTI-RACE
.4%
6.6 %
OTHER
20.4%
NON-HISPANIC
ABCD CUSTOMERS’ EDUCATION LEVEL
1 in 3
customers have
less than a
HS diploma
GRADE 0-8
14.2%
GRADE 9-12/NON-GRADUATE
HIGH SCHOOL GRAD/GED
17.3%
12+ YRS/SOME SECONDARY
38.8 %
29.6%
70.4%
2 OR 4 YEAR COLLEGE GRAD
14.3 % 15.4%
ABCD CUSTOMERS’ HOUSING AND INCOME
HOUSING
In order to afford the median
monthly rent in Boston of
$1,261, you need to make at least
$24.25 per hour,
or $50,440 per year.
If you earn minimum wage,
then you will have to work
108 hours per week.
OWN 17.0%
RENT 77.3%
HOMELESS 5.7%
LEVEL OF FAMILY INCOME
UP TO 50%
51% TO 75%
76% TO 100%
101% TO 125%
126% TO 150%
151% TO 175%
176% TO 200%
201% AND OVER
75
36%
12.1%
16%
10.6%
7.9%
4.9%
4.2%
8.2%
of ABCD customers live at or below 125%
% Federal Poverty Level -
this means a family of two earns $19,663 or less