SPRING 2008
City of Lowell: Partnership for Change

The City of Lowell released its 10-year plan to end homelessness in Lowell on June 5, 2008.  United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano and Lowell City Manager Bernard Lynch addressed the crowd gathered in City Hall.

More than 100 partners have been working to create the Partnership for Change: Action Plan to End Homelessness since January 2007.  The plan explores the challenges facing homeless individuals, families, youth and seniors in the Lowell community and provides action steps for change.

Pictured Left to Right: Director of Housing and Assisted Living Duamarius Stukes, Executive Office of Elder Affairs, US Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano and MHSA Executive Director Joe Finn.

The plan is “an ambitious undertaking that presents our community with an opportunity to move away from the current, high cost ineffective system of homeless shelters to the new — more cost effective —‘Housing First’ models of permanent supportive housing,” said City Manager and subcommittee chair Bernard Lynch.

The Action Plan provides an assessment of the current homeless service system in Lowell and explores moving toward innovative solutions to eliminate homelessness.  In addition to permanent supportive housing, the plan focuses on prevention and employment services.  The plan is based on the principle that there is nothing more important than having a home and that when people are housed, health and employment conditions improve and high cost medical care and interactions with the criminal justice system are minimized.

The Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance will work with the City of Lowell as they implement the plan.  Dr. Wayne Pasanen of Lowell General Hospital and President, Board of Directors of MHSA member agency Lowell Transitional Living Center and Linda King of the City of Lowell will chair the Individual and Street Dwellers Subcommittee.

To read the plan, click here.

Please click below to read additional coverage of the plan:

United State Interagency Council on Homelessness: In the Cities: Lowell, Massachusetts Unveils New 10-Year Plan
Boston Globe: City Commits to Timetable on Homeless