Spare Change News is proud to present the second installment of its new monthly feature, “In Their Own Words,” which highlights the work of writers who meet at Rosie’s Place. In late 2014, Rosie’s Place, a community center for Boston’s poor and homeless women, started a memoir workshop. The intention was to have the guests,…
Senior Housing in Brighton to Add Units for Disabled, Chronically Homeless
Seniors looking to live in Brighton this fall may be in luck now that the Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly (JCHE) campus is close to having 61 more units of affordable housing. The units are being built at 132 Chestnut Hill Ave., which is down the road from 30 Wallingford Road where JCHE residents…
Residents Rally Against Federal Cuts, Call for Affordable Homes
Hundreds of residents from across Massachusetts gathered in front of Faneuil Hall on Monday, July 31 to take a stand against President Trump’s proposed cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and to make a plea to Congress to increase funding for affordable homes. The Trump Administration is looking to cut the…
The Gold Medalist at the Giveaway: Aly Raisman visits Dorchester family shelter for mattress donation event
From left: Pearl, age four, shelter resident, Aly Raisman, and David Wolfe, CEO of Leesa Sleep. Photo: Samson Amore. Olympic gold medalist and 2016 women’s gymnastics team captain Alexandra “Aly” Raisman visited Heading Home’s Dorchester shelter on July 20, to help the families living there unbox their seven new mattresses from her partner company, Leesa…
‘Food for Free’ will farm land to feed the homeless
For the past 26 years, Food For Free, the Cambridge-based food-rescue organization, in partnership with Lindentree Farms in Lincoln, has set aside a quarter of an acre of land to grow produce to feed homeless people. Over the past two years alone, the nonprofit grew between 4,800 to 6,000 pounds of produce to help feed…
Invisible Nation: Author Richard Schweid Discusses Family Homelessness
In 2002 Tennessee-born author Richard Schweid found himself checking in to a rundown motel outside of Detroit. Brought there by his research for his 2004 book on transportation in contemporary Cuba, Schweid had no idea that he was about to stumble upon an entire community that exists across the United States hidden in plain sight:…
‘New Joelyn’s Home’ women’s shelter opens in Roxbury
Kelly Rapoza tried detox, intensive outpatient programs and Alcoholics Anonymous, but she still couldn’t kick her struggle with alcoholism. Sick, homeless and having recently lost custody of her young son, she entered yet another detox program in 2014, and from there she transitioned into Joelyn’s Family Home, a residential treatment facility on Boston Harbor’s Long…
City HeART puts at-risk artists on Display
Homeless artist Mel poses with his paintings at the City HeART exhibit. All photos: Alejandro Ramirez. The 7th Annual City HeART Art Show and Sale featured the work of artists dealing with poverty, ranging from those struggling with low incomes to the currently homeless. The event took place at the Prudential Center on Saturday, May…
Formerly homeless woman leads street backpack program in Nashville
Twelve years ago, Hurricane Ivan ripped through Jessica Thurmond’s neighborhood, destroying the house where she had been living. The 18-year-old in Florida was soon forced to live in her car while working multiple jobs. One of her jobs was at a gym, which meant she could use the facility’s shower and have a locker for…
Boston sees continued success housing the homeless, but still more work to do
Mayor Marty Walsh at the 2014 opening of Southampton Street Shelter. Photo: Zengzheng Wang. On Thursday, Boston officials announced that their push to end chronic individual homelessness has resulted in housing 301 individuals since the start of 2016. This is in addition to the 846 veterans they have housed since 2015. The new numbers reflect…