Helping Neighbors.
Transforming Communities.
Reimagining Trajectories.

Way Finders FY2021 Annual Report

A Message From Our CEO

FY2021 At A Glance

Helping Neighbors

At Way Finders, we help people who are facing real challenges—with housing, jobs, money, and other cornerstones of daily stability—to find real solutions. We support, believe in, and lift up those in need.

We all need help sometimes

—to see our options, to see our way forward, to see hope for a better future. The right help at the right time? It can positively change the trajectory of someone’s life.

In our client's own words
We help people through a crisis

—to secure emergency housing, pay for housing, avoid eviction and foreclosure, keep utilities on, and recover from trauma.

In our client's own words
We help ease daily struggles

—via help to find a job and reliable daycare, manage money, access food, and make home modifications for greater accessibility.

In our client's own words
We help people work toward long-term goals

—for education and training, a higher living wage, economic stability, stronger credit, homeownership, and entrepreneurship.

In our client's own words

Transforming Communities

Way Finders helps revitalize places—equitably, sustainably, collaboratively. To drive big-picture change, we take big-picture actions: We partner, advocate, educate, build, manage, invest, activate, and inspire.

We drive change in the regional housing landscape: We finance, build, rehabilitate, and manage affordable rental properties across the region.

We activate resident leaders at the grassroots level

by helping residents of Holyoke and Springfield advocate for their neighborhoods.

What does that look like?

We champion the local economy

—for example, Way Finders’ subsidiary Common Capital responsibly lends money to entrepreneurs, especially those who face challenges in securing loans via conventional ways.

What does that look like?

“I have very successful friends who were willing to loan me money to grow my business. I went with Common Capital instead, because I want to show the blueprint to others in my community. Not everyone has friends and family with money, but they have access to Common Capital.

If you come to them with a solid business plan and financial projections, chances are they can work with you. It doesn’t matter what you look or sound like. Common Capital is a true community partner.” 
-Myke Connolly, Owner of Stand Out Truck

We promote education and advocacy—through a housing lens.

The first step toward fixing problems? Identifying them. Who is burdened by the cost of housing? Where are inequities? Where could efforts make the most impact? What are the effects of the COVID crisis?

The Greater Springfield Regional Housing Analysis Report—produced by the UMASS Donahue Institute in partnership with Way Finders—is a multiphase effort to surface the region’s needs and opportunities.

Part 1 focused on housing production, affordability, and accessibility. It’s already helping lawmakers and housing advocates—such as by informing the distribution of American Rescue Plan Act funding ($4 billion).

Read the Study
A growing shortage of housing units
From 11,000 in 2021 to 19,000 by 2025
A heavy cost burden
More than half of renters pay 30% or more of income on housing
Racial disparities
30% of Black and Hispanic households own their homes vs. 70% of white households

We partner for impact

by collaborating with those who share our mission, such as accountable care organizations (ACOs), to bridge the connection between health and housing.

Learn More

“At C3, we recognize that addressing our members’ health-related social needs is key to helping them live healthy lives.

Individuals can’t recover from surgery or better manage diabetes if they are facing eviction or don’t have a healthy, stable home environment where they can cook healthy meals and store medication. Our partnership with Way Finders has provided our members with critical additional supports. Together, we are strengthening our neighbors’ health and well-being.” 
-Kim Prendergast, Senior Director Social Health—Community Care Cooperative (C3)

Reimagining Trajectories

Upward. Forward. Toward better—for themselves, for their families, for their communities. Through their relationship with Way Finders, our client’s stories often unfold in ways they never dreamed possible. Such is the power of support, belief, and actionable information.

Client Stories

In Praise Of Our Staff

In response to the great need for our work in fiscal year 2021, Way Finders grew its team by nearly 30%. Our 300+ staff members bring a wide mix of skills in pursuit of our mission: To build and advocate for a thriving, equitable region by positively transforming the trajectories of people and entire communities.

Financials

FY2021

Current Assets
$34,024,993
Fixed Assets
$3,216,825
Other Assets
$23,967,691
TOTAL ASSETS
$61,209,509

Current Liabilities
$22,939,266
Non-current Liabilities
$21,094,047
TOTAL LIABILITIES
$44,033,313

Total Liabilities and Net Assets
$61,209,509

Contributions
$4,554,192
Capital Campaign for Housing Center
$8,233
Grant Assistance Payments
$76,015,546
Grants-NeighborWorks America
$530,357
Contract Fees for Service
$22,189,350
Program Fees
$382,355
Other Income*
$5,624,666
TOTAL REVENUE
$109,304,699

Rental Assistance**
$49,751,890
Client Services
$44,594,838
Home Ownership
$706,047
Real Estate Dev & Property Mgmt.
$5,838,809
Administration
$2,767,488
Fundraising
$300,191
New Housing Center
$376,977
Rental Properties
$405,718
TOTAL EXPENSE
$104,741,958

Change in Net Assets - Operations
$4,562,741
Way Finders financials only (does not include subsidiaries)
* Property & Asset Management Fees, Developer Fees, Lending interest income & fees, Investment Income, Rental Income, Release from restriction combined, Gains on sale of property and MA tax credits, Debt Forgiveness
** Includes $44,753,049 in Rental Assistance Contract Funding Dispersed

To all those who supported Way Finders in Fiscal Year 2021 (July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021), we extend deep, heartfelt appreciation. Whether in support of our daily work—via programmatic and systemic operations—or our aspirations to grow and transform—via our capital campaign—your generosity propelled us forward. Our success, our reach, our impact on people and places—all were made possible by gifts from individuals, businesses, and foundations. Thank you.

Gladys and Ronald Abdow
Affordable Home Inspections
Carol Albano
Marta Alvarez
Andrew Associates
Anonymous
Edward Armstrong
Letitia Armstrong
Helen Douglas Arnold
Patricia Aslin
Associated Building Wreckers
Sarah Bachrach
Cynthia Baker
Andrew Balder
Baystate Health
Berkshire Bank Foundation
Ellen Berry
The Beveridge Family Foundation
Laureen Borgatti
Cheryl Bousquet
David Bowers
Paul Boyce
Elizabeth Boyle and Richard Norman
William Breitbart
James Broderick
Nancy Cabrera
Robert Castillo
Larry Cervelli
Citizens Bank
Margot Cleary
Denise Cogman
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
Mary-Beth and David Cooper
Country Bank
Lynn and David Barclay
Theodore Capuano
Robert Crowner
C&S Wholesale Grocers Trust
Deborah D'Amico
Daniel Dennis & Company LLP
Davis Square Architects
Beatrice Dewberry
Dietz & Company Architects
Dianne Doherty
Brenda Doherty
Robert Dorfman
Mary Beth Dowd
Peter Nicholas Elton
Donald Evans
John Fisher
Florence Bank
Jessica Fraga
Freedom Credit Union
Ellen Freyman
Peter Gagliardi
Susan Gagliardi
Peter Graham
Yesenia and Adam Greeff
Susan Gulluni
Haryiamo Haji
Felicity Hardee
Betsy Hayslett
Health New England
Jim Hickson
Mary Clare Higgins
J Lincoln Hirst II
Charles Hoag
HUB International
Annette Hunt
Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation
Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts
Diane Kleber
Klein Hornig LLP
Ann and John Klenakis
Mark Keroack
Ron Krakowiak
Allyson LaMondia
Elizabeth Levesque
Joyce and Stephen Lewis
Lexington Group, Inc.
James Linfield
Geoffrey Locke
Zach Longhi
Lori Lyon
Irene Madden
Alan Mallach
William Malloy
Madeline Martinez
Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation
MassMutual Foundation
Michelle McAdaragh
Morgan McKinney
Deborah McPartlan
Luke Meyer
MLS Property Information Network
Chris Montemayor
Sandra Moore
Timothy Moriarty
Gwynne E. Morrissey
Rosemary Morin
Jasmine Matta-Naylor
Jarrett Moyer
NeighborWorks America
Betsy Nicoletti
Kelly O'Connor
Guthrie Olko and Susan Victoria Shire
Sol Pagan
Wendy and Richard Parrish
LeeAnn Pasquini
Susan Pegoraro
People's United Charitable Foundation
PeoplesBank
Preservation of Affordable Housing
Barbara Werum Richard
Deanne and Christopher Riddle
Jeanne Rinaldo
Araceli Rivera
Karena Rivera
Lidya Rivera-Early
Nancy Rivera
Ellen Rogers
George Rosa
Noelle Rosa
Brian Rossini
Thomas Rossmassler
Rudolf Steiner Foundation
Santander Bank
Jennifer Santos
Ramus Serrano
Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin P.C.
Colleen Shea
Kathleen M. Sheehan
James Sherbo
Amelia Silver
Erica Simonette
Grace Simonette
Carole and Timothy Sterritt
Sarah Szczebak
Megan Talbert
TD Bank Charitable Foundation
Pamela Tuohey
Erica and Charles True
Tufts Health Plan Foundation
Leonard Underwood
United Personnel Services
Ruth Vasquez
Edward Velez
Janette Vigo
Glenn Welch
David Wells
Westfield Bank & Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation
Eric Wilkins
Trevis Wray