Press Release

Shelter announced today the institution of the William E. “Bo” Holland Public Service Award which will be given to the Honorable Thomas M. Menino at Shelter’s Annual Meeting on December 5, 2007. Named in memory of Bo Holland, a Board member of Shelter, the award is in honor of his dedication to public service and the people of Greater Boston. “Shelter intends to bestow this award upon individuals who exemplify Bo’s high standard of devotion to serving others. We could not imagine a more appropriate first recipient of this honor than Mayor Menino, because of his dedication to create affordable housing and to help the homeless in Boston,” said Tom Lorello, Executive Director of Shelter.

Bo was dedicated to public service and spent 3 years as a Board member of Shelter. As Mayor Menino appropriately said in Bo’s obituary, “he believed that government should be there to help people.” He lived that statement not only through his many years of service to the community but through his service as a Board member of Shelter Bo Holland’s family will be in attendance at the Annual meeting for the award presentation.

Mayor Menino has a long and distinguished record of leadership and advocacy for comprehensive strategies to develop and preserve affordable housing and to fight homelessness. As President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Mayor Menino made affordable housing in America’s Cities a top priority issue. The Mayor’s comprehensive housing plans, Leading the Way I & II have been noted for taking systemic approaches to housing development, neighborhood stabilization and the redevelopment of distressed pubic housing. The Mayor launched a $10 Million housing strategy for the homeless that emphasized increased housing production of single-person occupancy units, access for low-income households to public housing and rental assistance, and innovative public-private partnerships to end homelessness among the elderly and to prevent homelessness for families and individuals.

“Bo was an amazing person and his commitment to public service was unparalleled. He was dedicated to helping the homeless and was a proud supporter of Shelter,” Mayor Menino said. “I am honored to receive the first-ever William E. “Bo” Holland Public Service Award from Shelter.” The mission of Shelter is to end homelessness in Greater Boston by providing housing in conjunction with effective support services to help change the conditions that create homelessness. Shelter was founded in 1974, by a small group of concerned citizens in Cambridge. Shelter’s model to provide affordable housing to families and individuals as quickly as possible, along with intensive support services is the way to end homelessness.

By creating small housing programs with a ratio of one case manager per 10 individuals and/or families, everybody receives the intensity of service they need to remain housed and pursue their life goals. Shelter’s programs focus on smaller home-like settings with individualized attention in the communities of Boston, Somerville, Cambridge, Malden, Medford, Everett and Quincy.

For More information
Press: Carolyn Spicer/617.557.9190 Event: Terri Hootstein/617.864.8140