LYNN — Harborlight Homes and The Haven Project welcomed community members into the Catalyst Housing building at 65 Munroe St. Friday morning to listen to a series of speakers, experience self-guided tours of some units on the third and fourth floors and celebrate the project’s completion with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Catalyst Housing is a collaborative housing initiative “dedicated to providing permanent, supportive housing for homeless young adults, aged 18-24, who lack access to safe and secure living conditions on the North Shore of Massachusetts.”
Harborlight Homes and The Haven Project’s mission with this endeavor is “to create a secure, sustainable and affordable housing environment where residents receive comprehensive support services while working toward long-term stability.”
Tracey Friedman, executive director of The Haven Project, said her experience working for Lynn Public Schools and “working with our most vulnerable youth is what brought me here.” She added that she believes “that when we support young people at their most critical moments, we change lives – and with Catalyst, we’re doing just that.”
According to Friedman, this project has been “a long time coming,” as The Haven Project has been working on Catalyst Housing since 2018.
Tom Arsewault, regional director for Rep. Seth Moulton, read Moulton’s comments since he was unable to attend.
“What we’re celebrating today is more than a ribbon cutting,” Moulton wrote. “It’s a new chapter for young people on the North Shore who have faced extraordinary hardships. It’s a clear message to homeless youth that they are seen, they are valued and they have a place in this community.
“The Haven Project and Harborlight Homes have created something remarkable here: a safe, stable home, combined with the wraparound services that will empower young adults to find their footing, build a future and thrive. These 24 studio apartments aren’t just units. They’re launching pads for possibility.”
The wraparound services include: individual case management, assistance with basic needs, employment and job training programs, housing resources, educational and financial aid counseling, health care access and mental health coordination, community engagement opportunities and social skills development.
Each Catalyst Housing unit also comes with new kitchen appliances, furnishings and utilities like heat, air conditioning, electricity and water. There are also on-site card-operated laundry facilities, common lounge rooms and community rooms, common restrooms, a mail room and resident services.
Sen. Brendan Crighton praised stakeholders like the City of Lynn and fellow State representatives for their involvement with Catalyst Housing. He found importance in “setting an example in sending a message that housing is a human right, and then when we come together, we roll up our sleeves and work hard and do so with persistence, we can transform lives through that housing.”
Mayor Jared Nicholson said there is “an extensive need for exactly what this project seeks to accomplish,” and he emphasized the significance of providing this housing for this specific age demographic.
“Five years ago, when the City was working on its housing production plan… we did our best to size that need, and at that time, five years ago, in that school year, there were 1,098 students in the Lynn Public Schools who experienced homelessness at some point during the year,” Nicholson said.
“This year, so far, that number is 2,005,” he continued. “You can’t look at 2,000 students in Lynn Public Schools who have experienced homelessness and think anything but the system of delivering housing or a roof over people’s heads is broken… In the midst of that, I want to communicate on behalf of the City, our deep appreciation to The Haven Project and Harborlight for doing something – and for doing it the right way.”
Friedman said, “Today is more than just a ribbon cutting.”
“Catalyst Housing represents more than just housing,” Friedman said. “It represents potential for generational impact for the young people in our community. This is a place to launch, to grow and to thrive.”
