Karen Rebaza Named New Deputy Director of Boston Home Center

Karen Rebaza Named New Deputy Director of Boston Home Center

The East Boston resident will direct homebuyer and home restore plans in the Town of Boston.

Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office environment of Housing announced that Karen Rebaza has been appointed Deputy Director for the Boston Home Centre. Ms. Rebaza is an seasoned and highly regarded group banking chief in Greater Boston. Most lately, she served as a Vice President, Residential Neighborhood Development Officer at Rockland Trust, where by she specialised in working with very first-time residence potential buyers. Prior to doing work at Rockland Trust, she served as the Assistant Director of the Boston Dwelling Center, supporting to launch the discounted Just one+Boston home finance loan product.

“We are happy to welcome Karen Rebaza back to the Office of Housing to direct the Boston House Center’s endeavours in its function to increase homeownership amongst Boston citizens and to aid those that are previously owners,” explained Sheila Dillon, Director, Mayor’s Place of work of Housing. “Homeownership presents a path to generational prosperity and housing balance and is crucial to equitable development in Boston. Karen has been a winner of this vital operate through her job, and I glimpse ahead to working with her to build new chances.”

Ms. Rebaza’s new job at the Boston Residence Heart merges her enthusiasm for community setting up with her background in the household mortgage loan subject. As Vice President for Residential and Neighborhood Development for Rockland Have confidence in, she was liable for expanding Rockland Trust’s very first-time household buyer initiatives by offering academic workshops, operating with group housing organizations, and discovering opportunities to develop its household home finance loan product or service and system offerings. 

In her previous expertise with the Business of Housing, she served as the Assistant Director for Homebuyer Providers, for the duration of which time she helped start the One particular+Boston home loan products, managed the Neighborhood Properties Initiative, which employs Metropolis-owned land to create reasonably priced homeownership alternatives for Boston residents, and directed the Property Center’s foreclosure help and financial guidance courses. Prior to this function, Ms. Rebaza labored at Rockland Believe in as a Vice President and Citizens Bank as a Senior Financial loan officer. Throughout her intensive vocation in the household mortgage discipline, she specialized in CRA neighborhood lending, focusing on the to start with time dwelling purchaser plans in an effort to increase property ownership amongst Black, Indigenous and People of Shade in Massachusetts. Mainly because of her enthusiasm and devotion to the community and attempts to narrow the household possession hole, she has gained numerous awards all over her vocation recognizing her function in the home finance loan industry as very well as her devotion to the neighborhood.

She has also served as a member of the Citizens’ Housing and Arranging Affiliation (CHAPA) Range Committee, and the Advisory Board at the Increased Boston Chamber of Commerce.

In her new posture, Ms. Rebaza will oversee the Welcome Residence, Boston initiative and the management and operations of the Boston House Center.

The Welcome Property, Boston initiative will make the most of $60 million of American Rescue Strategy Act (ARPA) funding for the enhancement of income-restricted homeownership prospects on 150 parcels of City-owned land to be designed accessible for qualified Boston people. The funding will also enrich economic guidance programs to assist people in getting properties by giving grants that will deliver decrease house loan desire fees and up to $50,000 in immediate help, such as down payment and closing charge guidance, to income-eligible to start with-time homebuyers. Funding will also be employed to launch a homeownership system for certified Boston Housing Authority citizens

“I am extremely thrilled to return to town govt to be of company to the individuals of Boston,”  mentioned Deputy Director for the Boston Property Center, Karen Rebaza. “I look forward to performing with the Wu Administration, Main Dillon, and the personnel of the Mayor’s Business office of Housing to increase the prospects for homeownership and enable house owners in the Town of Boston. I appear forward to helping Mayor Wu realize her historic housing goals for our city.”

The Office of Housing’s Boston Residence Middle is charged with developing systems to enable Boston homebuyers acquire a household in Boston, and aiding present home owners with home servicing concerns. These plans include things like to start with-time homebuyer education and learning down payment and closing charge help to first-time homebuyers lead paint abatement for housing units in Boston and dwelling maintenance courses for competent people and older Bostonians. The Boston Home Centre also oversees Metropolis applications that guide property owners with keeping away from foreclosure and operates to enhance the City’s associations with banks, home loan companies, and nonprofits to encourage City packages and coordinate homeownership options.

In this position, Karen will oversee a employees of 29 employees and handle an once-a-year divisional spending budget of $16.9 million.

Karen Rebaza lives in East Boston with her family and is deeply included in advocating for the Boston local community. She now serves on the board of advisors for the East Boston YMCA, the advisory board for MAHA’s STASH Program, and board of advisors of Latina Centre Maria.

About the Mayor’s Business office of Housing (MOH)

The Mayor’s Office environment of Housing is accountable for housing people today suffering from homelessness, creating and preserving affordable housing, and guaranteeing that renters and property owners can attain, manage, and remain in safe and sound, secure housing. The department develops and implements the City of Boston’s housing creation and homelessness avoidance options and collaborates with local and nationwide associates to locate new solutions and build more housing inexpensive to all, especially these with decrease incomes. For extra details, remember to visit the MOH site.