Newton's Engine 6 Receives Housing Hero Award

NEWTON, MA — The Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) has recognized a group of Newton residents with a Housing Hero Award for their dedication to advocating for more housing in the city.

Engine 6 received the award on June 8 in a virtual awards ceremony at MHP's 15th Housing Institute, a two-day training conference for local officials and volunteers.

MHP is a state organization that uses bank funds and other capital sources to support and finance affordable housing. Each year, it recognizes communities and individuals for excellence in affordable housing.

Engine 6 was recognized for its ongoing advocacy for more housing production in Newton. These efforts include its role in supporting the use of a municipal parking lot for the 68-unit Austin Street development and its campaign to support the approval of the Northland Project, which involves the redevelopment of a 22-acre commercial near the Needham line and Route 128.

“They have been a consistent and effective voice for housing in Newton,” Lisa Braxton, communications coordinator for MHP, said in a statement. “Often working against stiff and vocal opposition, they have shown great determination and their positive advocacy and messaging for housing has made more residents aware of housing need and helped the city move many housing developments forward.”

Engine 6 was formed in June of 2013 to support the conversion of the former Engine 6 firehouse on Beacon Street in Waban into housing for nine chronically homeless individuals and a live-in house manager. Since it was created, Engine 6 has successfully advocated for over 2,100 units of housing of which 447 were permanently affordable.

Engine 6 leadership team members Lynn Weissberg and Doris Ann Sweet accepted the Housing Hero Award on behalf of the group.

“We are fully committed to making Newton a more diverse city and the best way to do that is to build more housing,” Weissberg said. “Adding affordable and market-rate housing is critical to this and we have been dogged in our work to support more housing.”

The group was one of four to receive a Housing Hero Award from MHP. Also honored were the City of Chelsea, the Town of Wellfleet, and Arlington director of planning & community development Jennifer Raitt.