Partnerships for the Mission

This journey has really helped me to understand and validate the whole idea of Mission Based. With all the stress and frustration surrounding making the "RIGHT" connections and partnerships, my Aha moment took place when I realized there was an organization right under my nose that catered to the population that we were looking to serve, seniors!

I was able to contact  The City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development who currently partners with other agencies to provide an array of different property development and home repair services. Interestingly enough, there was an element of their program that was solely focused on seniors.


Here are just a few example of what some of the services that seniors are available for:

City of Some examples of interior repairs are:

• Replacing a leaky faucet
• Fixing a clogged drain
• Improvements to a bathroom
• Repair of window cords and sashes
• For emergency assistance with no heat please see our HeatWorks program (Senior Emergency Heat Repair)

Some examples of exterior repairs are:

• Painting
• Repair or replace a porch 
• Repair or replace a roof 
• Restore a foundation 
• Repair or replace clapboards or vinyl siding 
• Replace windows

tonThrough this program, the Boston Home Center contracts with several neighborhood-based agencies to offer eligible seniors 0% interest deferred loans for minor, moderate, and emergency home repairs. 

What are the benefits?

• Receive a 0% interest deferred loan to make important improvements to your home 
• Additional grants also available to help finance certain projects
• Receive technical assistance from a construction specialist

Who is eligible?

• Must be at least 62 years of age 
• Must own and occupy a 1-4 family home or condo in Boston 
• Must be current on property tax payments 
• Must be current on payments to the Boston Water and Sewer Commission
• Must have a household income that does not exceed 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 
• If applicant lives in a multi-family building, HUD requires that at least 50% of that building's residents be low or moderate income

• Additional terms apply

Referrals to this program are currently made through a few of their partnered agencies, that coincidentally enough do not provide property management services such as our program.

Our ultimate goal in 3-5 years is to become a partnered agency that referrals are made through so that seniors can access these resources. Fortunately enough, there are many people i.e. seniors  that do not know that these programs exist and our role will be working as a liaison connecting our clients to resources and assuring we able to facilitate the contact, fill applications, verifying eligibility along with setting them up with our own contractors. 

As we continue to build our network of resources catered to the income challenged senior home owners that live in the urban inner-city neighborhoods, we strive to assure that we separate ourselves from other property management organizations by being a resource, mission based organization that works to strengthen our inner city neighborhoods for the reduction crime, abandonment of poorly conditioned homes, tenant appeal and become unit occupied homes in a secure neighborhood. Under our guidance and advocacy our Mantra will be accessible, resourceful, and low-cost services at your fingertips!

Department of Neighborhood Development

New Venture Idea!!!!!!!!

Ever thought of how cool it would be to have a gift idea that solely dedicated to alcoholic drinks?

Introducing “Drinks on Me” Gift card!

This will be the new best gift idea for the average party goer, bar hopper or even a great gift for a 21^st birthday. Instead of actually buying a bottle of wine or a pack of beers, you can give your friend, loved one a Drinks on Me gift card, so that they can use at any bar in town. It would be only for Drinks!             

Knowing you can give someone a gift, of them drinking on your tab, and not have them worry about having to spend too much of their money on drinks is great! The catchy name implies that someone is thinking of you and would like to buy you a drink at their disposal without having to actually be there.

Being given many things as a gift especially a gift card that be used for general use can be tricky. Having a card specifically for alcohol at your favorite bar give you more reason to want to go out and have a good time and create more opportunity for more social outings.

Initially we plan on launching in phases, where we partner with local bars and restaurants to have these “drinks on me” cards tailored for just their bar or restaurant. The incentive for them would be, people would be more prone and feeling obligated to redeem these cards at these specific bars, which would hopefully in turn result in them purchasing more drinks then or in the future.

We would start off with about 1000 cards and try marketing them to different kiosks, stores, and other participating locations.

Founder of Drinks on me would be looking to profit %6-%12 per transaction depending on amount on card. However the real winner in all of this would be the venue providing the drinks.

The minimum amount per card would be $25.

The cards in the initial phases would be promoting the bar or venue of choice for specific redemption of the card, for the purchase of alcohol only.

Segments: Our targeted consumers would be in the age range of 21-35, mainly targeting party goers, college seniors, and club promoters. This segmented group would include club promoters, bar hoppers and foodies. A good amount of people who enjoy food may possibly enjoy this unique drink card idea.

The working class: Although Happy Hour is banned in Massachusetts; there are still good amounts of after work mixers that take place where people casually drink after work or at corporate work events.

We would definitely like to create a website, where venues can sign up to have their bar/lounge/restaurant/pub/  featured on the card and have the card redeemed on at their venu and given as a gift for exclusively that location.

Expiration date three months from purchase or funds will be lost

Money is tendered to venu once card is used

Owner gets % of the amount once money is placed on card and remainder stays on card until redeemed at venu.

Incentive Plan, for consumer: For every $100 gift card purchase the consumer gets a free $10 Drinks on me card! (Drinks on you and Drinks on us!!!)

Five to ten year growth plan………….

We would love to Co-Brand with Visa to eventually have these cards available nation wide. In order to Co-brand. We would need to propose that we would have 50,000 users within two years! That would  be our ultimate goal. Additional to that we would like to make this  card accessible on line or even develop an application where funds can be added to an existing card.

In a nut shell, this is just of the new venture! 

Please include thoughts and ideas.

I will post a more in depth strategic Plan later on! 

Focusing on the Mission

SEGMENTS

Narrowing down my segments has been the most challenging part of putting this all together.

Target: Poor-non-owner occupied elderly homeowners who live in the urban inner-city neighborhoods. ( Forgotten neighborhoods)

PARTNERSHIPS

Banks ( loan money for repairs)
Boston Development (low cost repairs on behalf of city)
City of Boston Loan Home repair Loan program!
Senior centers
State office of Elder Services


WHAT IS THE GREATER GOOD?

• Re-paring homes in neighborhoods that essentially no one wants to live in
• Reducing the burden to the community these vacant units are causing
• Reducing the target for crime in abandoned poorly kept homes
• Giving the disadvantaged elderly an opportunity to generate income off possible new tenants after renovation. 
• Increasing community value

Changing our neighborhoods one HOME at a time!!!!!!