Circumstances beyond their control led Joshua and Kelly Mauro to search for an affordable, handicapped accessible apartment. They found one at Stevens Corner in North Andover, a 42-unit rental community developed by Neighborhood of Affordable Housing and managed by Corcoran Management that received $985,000 from MassHousing via the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This is the Mauro's story told by Kelly Mauro:
"Six months ago, I never saw this coming. My husband, Joshua, was working full-time; I was taking care of our son and the daily duties of our home. And then a phone call ripped away all of the stability out of our lives. Joshua had been in a car accident. After his surgery he was sent to the Spinal Cord Injury program at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. There, we started trying to figure out life with a wheelchair.
"At the time, we rented a house that had narrow doorways and loft bedrooms with ladder staircases. It quickly became apparent that our first order of business was finding suitable housing. A housing search is frustrating under normal circumstances. But with our new income limitations and accessibility requirements, it was almost defeating. Months of searching led to dead ends, until I found an ad for Stevens Corner.
"We were first told that we did not qualify for the handicapped unit, but the staff at Corcoran Management disagreed. They pushed for us to be approved and worked hard to make it happen. When Joshua and I showed up to sign for what we thought was a regular unit, we were surprised with the news that we were in fact getting the handicapped unit. That was first good thing to happen to our family in months. We were overjoyed to tell our son that his father was finally coming home, that we would once again be together.
"Stevens Corner is a wonderful community. You feel genuinely cared about and respected as a resident. We truly love living here. Which is, to me, what makes a home. A home isn't just a place you live. It's a place you love to live."
Multifamily
Renter Stories
Renter Success Story: The Mauro Family
Stevens Corner, North Andover
We truly love living here. Which is, to me, what makes a home" -Kelly Mauro
Multifamily Renter Stories
Renter Success Story: Jennifer Alleyne
Bay Meadow Apartments, Springfield
March 18, 2019
Bay Meadow Apartments resident Jennifer Alleyne is working toward financial security and homeownership through the Compass program offered on-site.
Multifamily Renter Stories
Renter Success Story: The McElroy Family
Georgetowne Homes, Boston (Hyde Park)
April 17, 2019
MassHousing's largest ever transaction for a single rental development helped to improve and preserve affordability for Sheila McElroy and other residents of Georgetowne Homes
Multifamily Renter Stories
Renter Success Story: The Valdez Family
Roxbury Hills, Boston (Dorchester)
April 17, 2019
Patricia Valdez didn't let the obstacles in her life block her goal of being an independent, successful member of the community.