Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.

Charles H. Rucks, Executive Director

Contact Name: Charles H Rucks
Phone: 413-739-4737x212
Fax: 413-739-8070
Email: rucks@springfieldnhs.org

Background
Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (NHS) began its life as Upper Hill Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. in 1978, when a small group of residents, including Sophia E. Jeffery and Ruth Ann Hamilton-Stutts, took it upon themselves to change the future direction of their community. With the help of a young community organizer named Neal McBride, the resident group committed themselves to a national program designed to reverse the decline of homeownership in low-income neighborhoods through lending. In 1979 Neal became the first Executive Director of the organization. Realizing its mission had broader applications, the agency changed its name to the present Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (Springfield NHS) and expanded its service area to include the Bay Area neighborhood in 1983. Additionally, the organization entered into a partnership with Better Homes of Springfield that resulted in the substantial rehabilitation of over 100 units of Section 8 rental housing in their target neighborhoods. In 1981 Springfield NHS became a developer in its own rights and in 1990 expanded its services once again to the Old Hill neighborhood of Springfield. During the 1990's, Springfield NHS expanded its services to the entire City of Springfield, and into Holyoke, MA in 2004. In 2006, the agency expanded its services to include all of Massachusetts offering mortgage products for all income ranges. In 2009, Springfield NHS attained the designation as the first nonprofit mortgage lender licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Fully-Cycle Lender, Springfield NHS continues to revitalize communities through homeownership development, housing rehabilitation and resident empowerment. It also remains a partnership of residents, businesses and local government. Since its inception in 1978, it has invested more than $35 million in capital to facilitate low and moderate income families in the purchase or improvement of their homes.

Mission
Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services is a nonprofit organization that transforms families and revitalizes distressed neighborhoods through sustainable homeownership, rehabilitation and development of blighted properties, and resident empowerment.