CICD is a community development organization dedicated to building affordable housing in Boston, with a primary focus on the Mattapan neighborhood and surrounding areas. Since 2012, CICD has worked to build economically thriving communities in underserved neighborhoods where working families reside.
By developing safe, affordable housing, offering workforce training programs and providing accessible small business loans, we foster economic empowerment, advance social equity and enhance the overall well-being of Boston’s historically marginalized communities of color.
Affordable Housing.
Greater Boston has become one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation, placing a disproportionate burden on low-income families—particularly Black and Brown residents, many of whom are part of the city's essential workforce. We know that access to safe, clean and affordable housing can create a ripple effect—broadening economic opportunities, enhancing health and well-being, and empowering children to achieve their full potential. At CICD, we transform derelict spaces and empty lots into quality, affordable rental and homeownership opportunities where working families can raise their children in stable, healthy environments. Through partnerships with government agencies, real estate developers and other collaborators, we create environmentally conscious properties built with residents’ health and well-being as the first priority.
Learn about the benefits of affordable housing here.
Learn about our developments here
Green Jobs Training.
Both the State of Massachusetts and the City of Boston have set ambitious sustainability goals, including reducing greenhouse emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. CICD offers job training programs that equip residents in the low-income communities we serve with the skills needed to secure well-paying jobs in Massachusetts’ expanding green energy industry. Rising household incomes can have a transformative impact on the well-being of families and create lasting positive change throughout the broader community.
Support for Small Businesses.
Small businesses are the lifeblood and economic engines that can bring stability and prosperity to low income neighborhoods. CICD supports the formation and growth of small businesses in a number of ways: We offer affordable retail and office space and prioritize local, minority-owned businesses in the procurement of goods and services needed for our housing developments.
We are also preparing to launch our most transformative initiative yet: a program that provides affordable, flexible loans to entrepreneurs and developers, enabling them to start or grow local businesses and projects that expand community resources, generate jobs and attract external investment in underserved neighborhoods. Through this effort, we aim to address historic inequities by supporting individuals who have traditionally been excluded from accessing this type of capital investment.