Bethany Hill School

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Bethany Hill School is a living and learning community sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston in collaboration with South Middlesex Opportunities Council and other social service programs in the MetroWest region. [1]

South Middlesex Opportunities Council, commonly referred to as SMOC, is one of the largest private, non-profit social services groups in Eastern Massachusetts. Operating in the Metrowest region of the state, the group provides homeless shelters, drug rehabilitation programs, family counseling handicapped transportation and numerous other social services. It was founded in 1966.

MetroWest

MetroWest is a cluster of cities and towns lying west of Boston and east of Worcester, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. The name was coined in the 1980s by a local newspaper.

Contents

Overview

Bethany Hill School is located on a 100-acre (0.40 km2) semi-rural campus, in Framingham, Massachusetts near the Ashland town line. The Sisters of St. Joseph rehabilitated their former educational residence in the early 1990s, based on the concept of educational housing which pairs affordable housing to educational and life skills programs.

Framingham, Massachusetts City in Massachusetts, United States

Framingham is a city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. Incorporated in 1700, it is within Middlesex County and the MetroWest subregion of the Greater Boston metropolitan area. The city proper covers 25 square miles (65 km2) with a population of 68,318 in 2010, making it the 14th most populous municipality in Massachusetts. As of 2017 the estimated population was 72,032. Residents voted in favor of adopting a charter to transition from a representative town meeting system to a mayor–council government in April 2017, and the municipality transitioned to city status on January 1, 2018.

Sisters of St. Joseph

The Sisters of St. Joseph, also known as the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph and abbreviated C.S.J. or S.S.J., is a Roman Catholic religious congregation of women founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France, in 1650. This Congregation, named for Saint Joseph, has approximately 14,000 members worldwide: about 7,000 in the United States; 2,000 in France; and are active in fifty other countries.

Programs include financial planning, job prep workshops, parenting skills, youth summer camps, 12-step recovery groups, language literacy classes, computer training and GED classes. [2]

The campus includes a community garden, picnic benches, a playground and basketball courts. In addition to studio and congregate accommodations for about 30 individuals, Bethany Hill School provides ample space for families in its nine four-bedroom and ten two-bedroom apartments. Community spaces for workshops, staff offices, a playroom for children, a laundry room and a computer lab are located on the ground level.

Picnic table modified table with attached benches, designed for eating a meal outdoors

A picnic table is a table with benches, designed for eating a meal outdoors (picnicking).

There are between 90 and 100 people who live in 42 apartments on the grounds. [2] The units available are for individuals and families who can benefit for a supportive environment that enables them to live independently and to receive educational services. Every resident is expected to enroll in some sort of educational program. [2] Residents must be committed to an educational endeavor to increase their capacity to live effectively and independently. There are many opportunities for volunteers to help as "Grandsisters", volunteers one hour a week in the children’s room, tutoring, computer assistance, writing resumes, and assisting seasonally with various celebrations.

Residents include persons who are physically or mentally disable, persons who are hearing impaired, single mothers with children, individuals or families who are in recovery, people who are homeless or living in transitional housing. New Beginnings is one program that is a permanent congregate housing program for homeless living with HIV or AIDS. [2]

Its operations are funded by the rent from the 42 apartments, some of which are Section 8 public housing. All residents are assisted with housing costs in one way or another. The education programs are funded through grants. [2]

History of the building

Built in 1927 as a school for the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Later it was used as a novitiate until 1964. From 1971 to 1985 the grounds were used for a school for children with multiple disabilities. [2]

Awards

Bethany Hill School was presented with an award by the MetLife Foundation at the Enterprise Network Conference in Washington, D.C. on November 9, 2005. The School was accorded the 1st Place for Excellence in Affordable Housing in the Property and Asset Manager category along with a $25,000 award. The annual awards program is designed to recognize innovation and leadership in the development and operation of affordable housing by non-profit groups throughout the country.

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References

  1. SMOC. "New Beginnings 10th Anniversary" (Press release). Archived from the original on 2011-02-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McDonald, Dan (9 June 2009). "Life Learning: Framingham school pairs housing, education programs". Metrowest Daily News. Retrieved 18 October 2010.

Coordinates: 42°15′53″N71°25′51″W / 42.2648°N 71.4309°W / 42.2648; -71.4309