For those of us longing for a Lowell City Council meeting that shared a strategic vision for the city rather than debating which pothole to fill next, Christmas came early this year when Mayor Dan Rourke, at last Tuesday’s council meeting, briefed the council and everyone else on a strategic undertaking that Rourke called “the single biggest vote in the last 50 years in Lowell.” After learning more about the proposal, I don’t think he was exaggerating.
Low threshold housing is the best way to address homelessness. I think the question we need to ask as a community is, how can our city leverage resources to support non-profit organizations with developing this type of housing. It's expensive and this type of model often works well when there are supportive services available. Research has shown that the housing first model works, and correlates with a reduction in other publicly funded costs such as incarceration, arrests, hospital stays, emergency room visits, ambulance service, etc. How can we help CTI , SMOC , or other agencies develop 200 units of low-threshold housing here in Lowell?
Low threshold housing is the best way to address homelessness. I think the question we need to ask as a community is, how can our city leverage resources to support non-profit organizations with developing this type of housing. It's expensive and this type of model often works well when there are supportive services available. Research has shown that the housing first model works, and correlates with a reduction in other publicly funded costs such as incarceration, arrests, hospital stays, emergency room visits, ambulance service, etc. How can we help CTI , SMOC , or other agencies develop 200 units of low-threshold housing here in Lowell?