About A Home of Our Own, Jean Yawkey Place
The region has seen a continuous increase in homelessness over recent years, especially among families. BHCHP has experienced a commensurate increase in the need for expanded patient services and sought to establish a unifying hub to support its extensive outreach network.
In the summer of 2008 BHCHP opened Jean Yawkey Place, a facility that is the first of its kind in the nation. Located on the campus of Boston Medical Center, Jean Yawkey Place unites many of the core elements of the organization for the first time in its history:
The four-story, 77,653 square-foot structure was built in 1933 and is located at the center of BHCHP’s service area, on the corner of Massachusetts Ave and Albany Street.
Community Support for Jean Yawkey Place
Through the remarkable generosity of its benefactors, the $42 million capital campaign that established this Home of Our Own was successfully completed in Feb of 2009.
The organization’s reputation for treating the medical challenges of the homeless population in a manner that combines cost effectiveness with respectful mainstream medical and behavioral health care attracted support from some of the region’s most influential residents, corporations and foundations. Among those are Jack and Suzy Welch, Jennifer and Dennis Eckersley, Kim and Jim Pallotta, Tiffany and David Ortiz, the Yawkey Foundation, Partners HealthCare, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Boston Scientific, Tudor Investments, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Liberty Mutual.
Jack and Suzy Welch were the initial donors to BHCHP’s building fund.
The building is named Jean Yawkey Place in recognition of the Yawkey Foundation’s significant support ($5,000,000) for the capital project and also for its generous assistance throughout the decade.
Kresge Foundation Support
BHCHP also drew the attention of the Kresge Foundation, which awarded the organization a $2 million challenge grant for its capital campaign. The Kresge Foundation is nationally renowned for using challenge grants to provide endorsement, opportunity and leverage for organizations that benefit the well-being of humanity. Though gifts in the magnitude of $2 million are generally reserved for large hospitals and universities, the Trustees of the Kresge Foundation wanted to “signal their substantial endorsement” of BHCHP’s work and this project.
With the opening of Jean Yawkey Place, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program expands its flagship ambulatory clinic and respite program; enhances the integration of its medical, mental health and oral health disciplines in keeping with “best practice” models; and expands its presence within Boston for the sub-specialty of homeless health care as it addresses the unique needs of its patients.
