Current Events

Independent Ways

Lynn Shelter Association

Housing Opportunities Management Enterprises

ASSOCIATION

SHELTER

Lynn Shelter Association

Recent newsletter articles and upcoming events…..

Lynn Council on Homelessness

A number of local Lynn non profits and members from the Mayor’s Office and the Housing Authority met with John O’Brien the regional director for the Interagency Council on Homelessness. Mr. O’Brien represents a federal effort to engage all governmental divisions in ending homelessness and supporting those projects that work to that end. Their web site www.ich.gov provides information on those cities and regions already engaged in this vital planning process. Lynn is now one of those cities due in large part to the efforts of Mayor Clancy, Mike Leonard and Norman Cole.

LSA is honored that the Mayor’s office has included them on this council to represent the population and the non-profit agencies that provide services to Lynn residents. The Council will work together over the next several months to develop a ten year plan to end chronic homelessness in the City of Lynn. The Council will include representation form the medical community, the political community, the business community and the citizenry of Lynn. Together, we will work to devise a strategy that will attack the core reason for homelessness: poverty, lack of job skills, mental health issues, substance use issues, domestic violence.

As a member of this group, I am proud to work in a City that supports its citizens in so many ways—with local accessible healthcare, with a housing authority that works long and hard to address the issue of affordable housing, with agencies that not only provide services but also provide those in need with a sense of dignity and a way to move forward. And I lay odds that this council will succeed in its mission - because Lynn is committed to ensuring that their community is the best...for everyone.

SWEET DREAMS

Sweet dreams at Shelter Plus Care—thanks to Andy Kingston, General Manager of 101.7 WFNX and Evan Saks Director of Advertising for Dial A Mattress in Stoughton. WFNX had some mattresses from a promotion with Dial a Mattress and Andy and Evan thought—Lynn/Homeless. Andy asked Steve Walsh, Lynn Rep. and they all found their way to 89 Liberty and Betty Clady’s Shelter Plus Care Program—a clean/sober program for homeless individuals. Over $12,000.00 of top of the line mattresses, box springs and bed frames were unloaded on 9/12/05 and a whole bunch of people will sleep better tonight because of the efforts of these two men.

WFNX is based in the Lynn Arts building and does a huge amount for local non profits through their charitable organization FNXAction—supports events, public service announcements, donations and contributions. Andy feels it is important to provide for the community—for the City of Lynn—and WFNX reflects those values.

Dial A Mattress has supported the Pine Street Inn, the VA Hospital and is working on a large donation to the Katrina relocation efforts as well as culling a percentage of the purchase of any mattress in September to the rescue efforts. In 2004 and 2005, Dial a Mattress was the recipient of the prestigious Better Business Bureau Torch of Excellence Award for honest ethical business practices and commitment to Community.

What was so impressive to me in this was the personal commitment of both Evan and Andy to make it work.

We all know the comfort of cuddling down into bed at night. For the homeless, this is a comfort long denied and now, thanks to Andy, WFNX, Evan and Dial a Mattress, tonight’s rest will be soft, comfy and filled with sweet dreams.

Kids these days………

We’ve all said it. And here are some kids from Austin Prep - delivering a load of linens for the emergency shelter. I just don’t know about kids these days—spending their spare time helping out the homeless, organizing, collecting, packing, delivering. A shelter guest helped us unpack the van and he thanked the kids—shaking their hands. I mean, really, kids these days—they shook his hand, talked with him, shared

a laugh as they struggled together

down the stairs with their bundles.

Honestly, kids these days… bless

their hearts…...

GE: IMAGINATION AT WORK