Last week MASSPIRG at Salem State College participated in the 2nd Annual Community Service Week by hosting a panel "The Economy and Poverty." Speakers included Mark Cote, the director of the Salem Mission homeless shelter, and Emily Cohen from One Family, Inc, an organization committed to ending family homelessness in Massachusetts.
Students learned about the constant overflow at the Salem Mission homeless shelter, where the beds and waiting list are always full. For the colder months the Mission will provide emergency shelter for those in need, but even that will not address the commnunity's need. On top of the homeless, the hungry in the community are being turned away because "the food pantry is literally empty," according to Cote.
Emily Cohen reported that hundreds of families are being housed in Motels, a huge cost to the state, because family shelters are full to capacity. Both Cohen and Cote point to affordable and subsidized housing as the answer to get families and single adults out of the shelter system. Massachusetts is now running pilot programs on affordable housing and services for communities.
To help fund the Mission by volunteering at the Second Chance Thrift Store and advocate for more affordable housing in Massachusetts, contact Jen at jchase87@mac.com.
