Help Us Solve the Mystery of Affordable Housing!

In a city where housing costs keep rising, how do we keep Dorchester affordable for the people who serve our community?

The Bob Haas Community Trust, and the Bob Haas before us, has been working on this mystery for years—and we're getting closer to cracking the case.

The Case File: 29 Monadnock Street

This historic Dorchester home isn't just a building. It's a living experiment in Bob Haas's vision: development without displacement.

Here's what we know:

🔍 Nonprofit professionals and interns struggle to afford housing in the communities they serve
🔍 Rising rents push out the very people working to strengthen our neighborhoods
🔍 Traditional housing models don't work for those choosing mission over money
🔍 But an intentional community model just might be the answer

About Bob Haas: The Original Community Detective

Bob Haas was a gentle giant in Upham's Corner who spent his life investigating one question: How do we build community that lifts everyone up?

His methods were unconventional:

Legendary BBQ rib gatherings that brought neighbors together
Concert piano performances that filled the house with music
St. Bernards who taught loyalty and protection
A commitment to development that strengthened rather than displaced

Bob knew the secret ingredient to community wasn't found in development plans—it was found around the table, in shared stories, and in looking out for each other.

Our Mission: Continuing Bob's Investigation

The Bob Haas Community Trust maintains affordable housing at 29 Monadnock Street for professionals working with nonprofits. We're proving that:

✓ Affordable housing can be financially sustainable
✓ Intentional community supports those doing vital work
✓ Development and displacement don't have to go hand in hand
✓ Historic homes can be community anchors, not just commodities

But here's the twist: we've never achieved full occupancy, and yet we've maintained financial stability through committed supporters, volunteer-driven management, and a community that believes in this vision.

That's where you come in.

Why Your Support Matters

Every donation helps us:

Keep rents affordable for nonprofit professionals and interns who choose service over high salaries
Preserve a historic home as a community asset in a rapidly changing neighborhood
Prove the model works so others can replicate development without displacement
Honor Bob's legacy of community building through inclusion, not exclusion
Support the next generation of community builders who will shape Dorchester's future

The Evidence: Your Impact

$50 - Covers utilities for one resident for a month
$100 - Supports essential maintenance and repairs
$250 - Helps subsidize rent for a nonprofit intern
$500 - Makes a transformational impact on our annual operating budget
$1,000+ - Helps us plan for long-term sustainability and community growth

Any amount - Every dollar is a vote for development without displacement

Become a Community Detective

Join us in solving the mystery of affordable, sustainable community housing:

One-Time Donation
Support our mission today

Monthly Sustainer
Become a reliable partner in our work (as little as $10/month makes a difference!)

Honor Gift
Make a donation in memory of Bob Haas or in honor of someone who believes in community

Matching Gift
Check if your employer will double your impact

The Plot Continues...

This isn't just about one house on one street in Dorchester. It's about proving that another way is possible.

What if nonprofit professionals didn't have to leave the communities they serve?
What if development actually strengthened neighborhoods instead of displacing residents?
What if we chose community over profit, collaboration over competition?

Bob Haas believed it was possible. We're proving him right.

Will you join the investigation?

The Bob Haas Community Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. EIN: 92-3583826

Other Ways to Support

Can't donate right now? You can still help:

Share this page with friends who care about affordable housing
Follow us on social media and amplify our mission
Connect us with potential donors or partners
Volunteer your skills (legal, financial, maintenance, event planning)
Keep Bob's vision alive by talking about development without displacement

Questions?

Contact us at 29MonadnockSt@gmail.com

Learn more about our work at haashouse.org!

The Plot Thickens

Bob Haas Community Trust Annual Benefit