Civic Spotlight

Housing with a heart

This page honors local organizations that help the community and its residents improve their lives. Each quarter a new organization will be honored.

This quarter Haverhill Bank honors:
Bethany Homes

The phrase “age is just a number” certainly rings true at Bethany Homes of Haverhill.

The not-for-profit organization not only provides moderate and low income seniors with an affordable and comfortable place to call home, but rather an overall active and independent lifestyle, complete with a booming social calendar and a caring environment where health and safety are top priority.

“We’re providing not just bricks and mortar, but rather a lifestyle in a safe and supported community,” explains David Thomas, President and CEO of Bethany Homes. “People need not fear the future, because there are people there to help them.”

While the organization now operates four elderly housing residences and two supportive care services, it wasn’t always so great in size.

Mission Towers is one of four Bethany Homes’ properties providing affordable housing for local senior citizens.

The charitable work of this organization was initiated in 1906 by the Haverhill Union Mission. In 1965, Rev. Dr. Duane Windemiller, a local pastor, officially founded Bethany Homes with intentions “to plan, construct, own and operate facilities and resources necessary to provide social, cultural, educational, spiritual, religious, and recreational programs and opportunities for senior citizens in the community.”

Four Bethany Homes’ housing communities are located in Haverhill; Merrivista, Mission Towers, Phoenix and Carleton Home. These buildings can be found throughout the city in a variety of geographic regions, including the historic district, countryside and overlooking the Merrimack River.

“There is a certain gratification that comes with giving people the best housing they’ve had in their entire life and making their retirement a happy time,” said Thomas, a 19 year veteran of the organization.

Interestingly, some of the Bethany Home’s buildings were among the first to be developed in the Pentucket Urban Renewal District.

All residences were constructed with energy conservation and accessibility in mind and feature automatic doors, ramps, elevators, and wide doors for easy mobility.

Three Bethany Homes’ feature spacious roof decks with gorgeous views of the Merrimack River and the quaint church steeples and rolling hills of Bradford.

Additionally, modern amenities such as commercial kitchens, full dining rooms, beautician's shops, libraries, television rooms, wellness clinics, laundry rooms, roof decks and fenced in areas for exercising pets and gardening are also available.

Each residence also offers special activity programs including daytrips, sporting events, historic site tours and creative arts programs. Residents are even encouraged to plan annual vacations to popular tourist destinations such as national parks.

“We’re going someplace all the time,” Thomas points out. He notes residents enjoy trips to the beach, fall foliage tours and of course, Boston sporting events.

A History Ride is one activity unique to Bethany Homes. On each History Trip, participants travel to a specific neighborhood in Haverhill. A guide talks about the area’s history along with his or her own personal experiences at the location. The tour provides participants with an opportunity to recognize and experience how the city has changed over time.

For residents who would rather stay closer to home, special interest groups aid in discovering new friendships and creating a positive environment. Or, for those who enjoy working with others, optional activities include volunteering, serving on the Resident Council or teaching a class.

“There are a wide variety of activities offered to residents, many of which are organized by the residents on their own, such as crafts and card games,” said Thomas.

While monthly rent varies per resident, many pay about 30 percent of their income as rent. Though, no matter the fee, residents of any Bethany Homes’ property pay rent well below the fair market rent for Haverhill.

In an effort to reach those who truly need assistance, preference is often given to those who make very low income, meet Affirmative Action criteria or currently live in overcrowded conditions or substandard housing.

In addition to affordable senior housing, Bethany Homes also provides adult supportive care services though Sarah’s Place and Bethany Care.

Sarah’s Place Adult Day Health, an affiliate of Bethany Homes, offers elderly participants an opportunity to socialize and continue to lead an active lifestyle. A registered nurse is always on-site at each location, a light breakfast, lunch and snack are served daily and transportation is available. For caregivers, Sarah’s Place delivers a peace of mind, education and support. 

Bethany Care is a certified group adult foster care and congregate housing services provider. The group provides Bethany Homes’ residents with their meals, several hours of personal care each day, a managed care plan and access to other community services.

Since 1965, Bethany Homes has been overseen by an 18 member volunteer board of directors. The group consists of a diverse group of leaders from the local community and meets monthly to review the policy, finances and work of the entire organization.

Due to restrictive regulations placed on not-for-profit organizations today, Bethany Homes depends on organizations like Haverhill Bank to contribute funding each year to provide its supportive services at no cost or with subsidized fees.

“It’s rewarding to be involved with an organization that provides members of the community with such a unique opportunity. Because of today’s steep cost of living, many local elders are faced with lowered standards of living. Bethany Homes provides those individuals with a realistic and immediate solution to their problems,” said Thomas R. Faulkner, president of Haverhill Bank.

David Thomas explained all contributions are put toward subsidized programs such as the wellness program, which provides an on-site nurse two days-a-week. Donations also cover the cost of transportation vans for residents, medical supplies and much more.

More than 2,000 individuals, organizations and private foundations have participated in making Bethany Homes’ vision a reality.