Yearwood House

On November 5, 2006, Trinity Church and Pine Street Inn celebrated the opening of Yearwood House, a single-room occupancy (SRO) rooming house to provide permanent housing for 22 formerly homeless men and women. The House Blessing and Naming Celebration came after years of effort and commitment by many parishioners.

The genesis of this project: a commitment borne with the Capital Campaign. In 2001, as part of Trinity’s Capital Campaign, the Vestry set aside 5% of campaign proceeds for outreach to those most in need. The first allocation was $500,000 for “Nehemiah” affordable housing, to be constructed in Boston with other Trinity partners in the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO). Because GBIO could not secure the property on which it hoped to build, in 2005 the funds were returned to donors. Trinity’s Vestry then asked a group of parishioners, led by Brad Wallace and Alexandra Burke, to discern how these funds could be used for another affordable housing project, given the continued severity of the need in Boston, and Trinity’s ongoing commitment to the homeless. The committee established the following criteria:

• Focus on a specific project that will move forward in the near term;
• Serve the most poor, with income levels of 30% median income or lower;
• Chose a project close to Trinity’s neighborhood so parishioners can have an ongoing relationship with the residents of the building, not just a financial commitment;
• Partner with others, both to leverage our funds and to utilize expertise in the city.

Trinity and Pine Street Inn partnered to purchase “Yearwood House.” With the support of Trinity, Pine Street Inn was able to purchase a building at 459 Park Drive in Boston, which provides 21 units of Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing for formerly chronically homeless men and women. Pine Street staff operate the building, and provide any needed services.

The building is named "Yearwood House" in honor of Trinity verger Bob Yearwood, and his over-thirty years of ministry to the homeless of Copley Square.

Trinity parishioners contributed more than $40,000 in additional donations to furnish the house, and also gave gifts of linens, kitchenware, and small electronic appliances to outfit each room with the "comforts of home."

A small group of parishioners organize social and service-oriented events for the residents of Yearwood House to support them in their transition from the streets. To get involved, please contact Beverly Merz.