This April, in celebration of Financial Literacy Month, we are proud to highlight one of our trusted non-profit partners, Bethany Hill Place (BHP).
For over 30 years, Bethany Hill Place has created a living and learning community for individuals and families facing homelessness. As part of living at BHP, residents have the opportunity to engage in educational programs designed to equip them with the skills necessary to build financially stable and self-sufficient futures.
To learn more about their financial literacy program and its integral role in their community model, the Foundation spoke with James Tresner, Executive Director of Bethany Hill Place.
One of the pillars of your organization is education and giving your residents the tools to feel empowered and grow. Can you share more about how your organization utilizes education in its programming?
Education is a core part of what we do at Bethany Hill Place. We start with high-quality, affordable housing, but our mission has always been to pair that housing with responsive educational opportunities. Everything we do is holistic and person-centered, meaning residents set their own goals, and we support them in achieving those goals. We strive to understand what types of educational opportunities would uplift our clients, and then create those opportunities. Increasing our resident’s financial literacy is an important part of that work.
During in-depth coaching conversations with residents, our staff works to help them clarify their goals and obstacles, acknowledging that the reasons people experience homelessness are so complex. Individuals made vulnerable to poverty are usually navigating extremely difficult personal challenges such as addiction, mental health challenges, or a past experience with domestic violence. Then, those personal circumstances are often compounded by complex large-scale obstacles, like systemic racism. These barriers make skills like managing credit or addressing/avoiding debt harder to master.
Can you share more about your financial literacy program?
One of the things that makes us unique is the continuous, persistent supportive presence we provide because our staff are embedded in our community. It’s not just about offering opportunities—it’s about being there to advocate alongside our residents, check in with them, and uplift them as they strive to stay on track on the small steps that lead them to achieving their larger goals.
Practically speaking, our program staff work one-on-one with residents to tackle day-to-day challenges like paying off old tax bills or navigating insurance issues. For example, we recently helped a family consolidate multiple insurance plans for their children, simplifying their healthcare and financial management. We also provide robust support when residents are seeking rental assistance or other aid. The paperwork and processes required to access resources can be very complicated, and we are here to help. Additionally, for those looking to take larger steps forward, we provide funding for them to attend external financial education programs, encourage them along the way, and offer an incentive for completion.
This personalized coaching model and 1:1 follow-up ensure that residents receive tailored support that leads to long-term success.
What other services does Bethany Hill Place offer?
Our core is providing affordable housing for roughly 100 people in 41 apartments, with a focus on building a strong sense of community alongside our educational programming. Relationship-building is key to our success.
We host community building events like a Thanksgiving dinner or summer cookout, and took a trip to Fenway Park to catch a Red Sox game last summer. One of our residents hosts a “coffee with neighbors” event in a common space on weekends. For kids, we offer after-school programs twice a week, summer programming, and field trips during school vacations. Our teens also have a weekly program on Wednesday nights.
For adults, in addition to case management and coaching, we provide ESL classes on-site, scholarship funding for anything from HiSet classes and driver’s ed to Master’s level coursework, and more. We have a community garden with monthly gardening workshops, a computer lab, an on-site clinician through Advocates, and free WiFi for all tenants. We also partner with over half a dozen local organizations to combat food insecurity and provide other resources to residents. Our staff is always available to help, whether with a listening ear, translating documents, gardening advice, or a referral to an outside opportunity.
Ultimately, our goal is to break the cycle of generational poverty through housing and education.
How can the MetroWest community get involved?
There are several ways to help! You can follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram to stay updated. We’d love to see you at our Gala on May 1st, which is sure to be an inspiring night. We’re also always on the lookout for volunteers—for example, helping out with our weekly youth programs or volunteering in our garden. We are available to introduce folks to our mission and community with an on-site tour if you’re interested in learning more. Our Board is active and involved, and we are always on the lookout for new prospective members.
I would also encourage community members to advocate for affordable housing development. Homelessness is a systemic issue that calls for empathy at a human level and action on a policy level. Supporting initiatives like the MBTA Communities Act can make a real difference in addressing housing challenges. At its core, housing is a social determinant of health. Without a meaningful uptick in affordable housing in the Commonwealth, we will struggle to address the root causes of homelessness. Advocating for investment in affordable housing makes a difference.
