SBNDC Spotlight: Owen McCarthy

Owen McCarthy has found himself a home at South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation … in more ways than one.

He’s not only a longtime resident (16 years) in South Boston NDC housing, he’s also the organization's maintenance manager.

He does everything from apartment cleanouts to yard maintenance to helping seniors hang their curtains … and everything in between. 

Because Owen lives in South Boston NDC housing, “I’m close to [the residents]. I connect with them,” he said. “I know everything they are going through, too, because I’m in the same situation.”

The first apartment he ever got on his own was a South Boston NDC apartment.

Owen has been full time with South Boston NDC for about three years, but prior to that, he subcontracted with the organization for about 10 years through his business, Celtic Cleanouts. (His nana is from Belfast and he has 14 uncles and 2 aunts who live there.)

Michelle Zenga, South Boston NDC’s property manager, saw something in Owen and asked him to come on full time. 

“He's dependable, trustworthy, hard-working, and has a great work ethic,” said Michelle. “He's very personable and the tenants love him. He's an asset to South Boston NDC.”

Said Owen, “She had confidence in me. They took me in and embraced me.”

Owen is basically on call 24/7. He maintains South Boston NDC’s buildings and makes sure everything is working properly; he keeps the buildings tidy and clean; he paints; he fixes toilets and sinks; he brings out the trash barrels at the properties; he unlocks doors for residents who lock themselves out.

And while residents are supposed to call Michelle for maintenance work, many of them call Owen directly because they feel so comfortable with him.

He appreciates the flexibility and freedom the job offers because he has full custody of his autistic son. So if he needs to get his son from school, he can do it without worry. “It’s why I give as much as I can. I work very hard.”

He also appreciates the trust his South Boston NDC co-workers have for him. “It’s a lot of responsibility,” he said, noting he has too many keys to count. “Trust is huge. It’s a good feeling. 

“I like the people that I work with. The people … that’s most [important] of all to me.”

Owen is originally from Dedham, but moved to South Boston about 20 years ago. He came here to get sober at the Answer House and stayed. “I saw a good way of life here” for him and his son, he said.

Two years after moving here, Owen, 53, opened Celtic Cleanouts, which he still operates on weekends, though he laughed that he’s getting too old for demo work. 

When Owen is not working, he likes to hang out with his son, ride his motorcycle, and travel. He and his son regularly go to Ireland to visit family. 

He would like to eventually get his own house, but says he’d still live close by to perform all his South Boston NDC duties.