Mission & History

Newton Community Development Foundation (NCDF) has played a key role in shaping multi-family apartment living in the City of Newton, Massachusetts. NCDF owns and manages six well-designed, carefully administered housing communities in three of the thirteen villages that make up the City of Newton: Newton Centre, Newton Highlands and West Newton. Two of our properties are specifically designed for senior living.

From our dedicated volunteer Board of Directors and Advisory Committee members to our professional and devoted staff, our team shares a deep commitment to NCDF’s founding mission and principles. Our team is committed to offering quality affordable housing with a comprehensive Resident Services program that enriches lives, promotes community spirit and enhances quality of life for residents of all ages.

“NCDF has been absolutely outstanding in creating housing where people from diverse incomes, family make-up and racial distinction can live together and create a mini beloved community that continues to make Newton a City where people from all backgrounds desire to live.”

Mission and History, Newton Community Development
—Rev. Howard M. Haywood (1940–2019),

Mission and History, Newton Community Development

Mission

NCDF fosters opportunities to thrive by providing high-quality housing for residents across the economic spectrum, exceptional property management and comprehensive resident services.

Vision

To ensure all people, regardless of their economic status, have choice in where they live and opportunities to thrive.

Core Values

Quality Service

  • We deliver thoughtful, creative solutions to development, property management, and resident services challenges.
  • We go beyond housing to advocate and provide opportunities for our residents to thrive.
  • We strive to provide high levels of resident satisfaction.

Organizational Culture

  • We foster a culture of caring, respect, and open communication.
  • We deliver and hold ourselves accountable for a high standard of excellence.
  • We conduct ourselves with honesty and integrity.

Teamwork

  • We are passionate about building strong communities through collaborative relationships.
  • We build the trust and confidence of our team members and partners through practices that are responsive, transparent, and fair.

Stewardship

  • We are committed long-term owners and managers of service-enriched, sustainable communities.
  • We preserve and enhance the highest physical condition and value of our owned and managed properties within the constraints of available resources.
  • We practice financial and social responsibility to assure long term stability and service.

Diversity/Equity/Inclusion

  • We strive to have a workforce and resident population that reflects diversity.
  • We provide opportunities for all voices to be heard, and those voices inform our choices and decisions.
  • We embrace and practice diversity, equity, and inclusion in all we do.

History

In June 1968, twenty-four priests, ministers, and rabbis from the Newton Clergy Association, along with members of Church Women United, met to pursue ways to meet the housing needs of the community. At that meeting, the group incorporated the Newton Community Development Foundation (NCDF). Later that year, the leadership of the Foundation was transferred from the clergy to a lay board of distinguished Newton citizens.

In 1974 NCDF received the approval of the Board of Aldermen, and The Hamlet (later renamed Houghton Village) became the first privately held mixed-income housing to be approved by the City of Newton, and opened for occupancy in 1977. Five other properties in Newton, owned and managed by NCDF, followed: Casselman House (1981), The John W. Weeks House (1984), Warren House (1992), Boylston Street (1996) and The Homes at Auburndale Yard (1998). Casselman House and Weeks House are primarily senior housing communities. NCDF Resident Services was established in 1993. Recognizing the interconnectedness of all that we do, NCDF continues to sustain communities of dignity and respect on behalf of residents, families, neighbors and staff.

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