N.B. YWCA project receives grant

NEW BEDFORD – The YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts inched closer last month to raising enough money to build new housing for low-income single women.
Community Recovery Innovations Inc., a subsidiary of MassHousing, announced last week a $75,000 grant for the agency’s project at its Sixth Street location. The grant put a dent in the $4.8 million required for the project, which also involves the construction of a day care center, offices and renovations to an existing facility.
YWCA Executive Director Gail Fortes said that the agency already has secured money through grants, donations and city funding. It needs to raise an additional $1.5 million to move forward with the project.
The grant “is great for us because it puts us a little closer to our goal,” Fortes told Providence Business News.
The YWCA plans to build the new facility on the foundation of a former carriage house next to its existing building known as the Levi Standish House. A sky bridge will connect the two structures.
In the new 12,000-square-foot structure, the YWCA will open a day care center on the first floor with room for about 75 students. The second floor will contain a community room and office and the third floor host 10 rooms for single women above the age of 18.
Currently the YWCA’s housing and childcare facilities are located in leased space and those programs will move when the new building opens, Fortes said.
The agency hopes to break ground on the new building in April to coincide with the agency’s 100th anniversary. Forbes said she expects the facility will take 12 to 18 months to build.
The project also includes work at the historic Levi Standish House. Plans call for new offices and handicapped accessible restrooms. Work already has been completed on improving the house’s exterior features.
Warren-based Litman Architecture has been overseeing the design work.