LYNN — Lynn Shelter Association celebrated 40 years of operation and looked forward to the future of providing more holistic services to those facing housing insecurity.
“We are incredibly appreciative of the city of Lynn, the community, And the mayor and his staff for all the support that they’ve provided to Lynn shelter over the years,” Shelter CEO Mark Evans said.
Evans said they have officially finalized a deal to transform the space in the Osmond Hotel owned by the shelter into a new, state of the art shelter.
“Our biggest goal right now is to get this new shelter built and be able to serve people in a way that is dignified,” Evans said.
According to Evans, the new shelter is slated to have a mini medical clinic, a housing search office, and vocational assistance. In addition, it will also have a private courtyard so clients can be outside without being on the street, which will provide them with a sense of confidentiality regarding their situation.
“It’ll really be a one stop shop for people who are trying to figure their way out of homelessness,” Evans said.
Evans said the shelter has truly developed to be able to provide more services to those experiencing housing insecurity.
He said when the shelter started 40 years ago, it was seen as a temporary solution, but he feels that now the need for it is stronger than ever.
State Representative Nominee and School Committee Member Sean Reid, who spent time at the Lynn Shelter when he was around 10 years old, gave a keynote address during the ceremony Thursday.
“That time of life was not just a period or a time of my life, it is part of who I am today,” Reid said.
Reid said as he reaches important milestones in his life such as being elected the state representative nominee and having his first-born son, he thinks back to his time at the Lynn Shelter’s Bridge House.
Reid said something that resonated with him about his time at LSA was how the staff treated him with dignity and respect and made him feel “normal.”
“It’s something that really stuck with me and has really developed my sense of empathy,” Reid added, particularly in regards to the issue of housing.
“I want to show that my story is not unique,” Reid said. “Of course the details are unique, but the work that LSA does each and every day helps people reach unimaginable goals and that unimaginable for some can be getting clean, that for unimaginable for others can be getting a car so they can bring their kids to school.”
He added the work that is done at the Lynn Shelter Association is not just impactful to individuals, but for the whole community as streets become safer.
Reid also noted that while it was bittersweet for the shelter to be celebrating 40 years, he fervently hopes the work will have been done for Massachusetts and the United States to no longer be dealing with a housing crisis in 40 years.
“Do what ever you can to support LSA,” Reid said.
