Press Release: City of Lowell, Partnership to End Homelessness

Homelessness in Lowell is a serious and visible problem. The following press release is regarding a conference, the fifth in a series, that aims to address the challenges the homeless face. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Linda King         

Title: Community Development Specialist

Phone: 978-674-4252

Email: lking@lowellma.gov

City of Lowell, Partnership to End Homelessness

Keys to Ending Homelessness Conference Series - Conference 5: Criminal Justice Reentry Strategies

October 28, 2011 – Holiday Inn, Tewksbury, MA

Lowell, MA, October 28, 2011— The City of Lowell will hold the fifth conference of its Keys to Ending Homeless Conference Series on October 28, 2011 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Holiday Inn in Tewksbury, MA.  

Conference 5: Criminal Justice Reentry Strategies is being held in partnership with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, Lowell Police Department, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance and the Paul and Phyllis Fireman Foundation. The MA Department of Corrections and the Hampden, Norfolk and Suffolk County Sheriffs' Offices are also participating.  Philip Mangano, President and CEO of the American Round Table to Abolish Homelessness and the former executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the keynote speaker.

Background:

The City of Lowell's Keys to Ending Homelessness Conference Series is a product of the City's Partnership for Change Initiative to End Homelessness in 10 Years.  Partners for the Series have included University of Massachusetts Lowell, U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development, MA Departments of Housing and Community Development and Public Health, U.S. Social Security Administration, Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, MA Executive Office of Community Colleges, Paul and Phyllis Fireman Foundation and many others. 

Its mission is to engage the community, partners, homeless housing and services managers and front-line staff in a discussion of innovative programs and key funding opportunities that may be available to address homelessness; provide overviews of comprehensive local and national strategies, and offer workshops and follow-up onsite training programs for local agencies on the issues discussed at each of the 8 conferences.  

Conferences in the Series include: Social Security, October 2009;  Education, Employment & Business Incentives, March 2010; Housing, June 2010; Behavioral Health & Trauma Informed Care, October 2010; Criminal Justice October 28, 2011;  Seniors, Veterans and Food Security (2012 TBD)

Saints to be acquired by LGH

Saint's plan to be acquired by Steward is dead - they are now (again) looking at being bought by Lowell General Hospital.

This is great news from my point of view. Keeping Lowell institutions run locally is something we should work towards. If we are to remain a separate and proud entity from Boston or wherever, we need things like this to happen. In a day and age where healthcare is a big part of our economy, this is huge.

See Marie Sweeney's take for more, and the Lowell Sun from there:

http://www.richardhowe.com/2011/10/06/a-shocker-saints-medical-center-agrees-to-lowell-general-acquisition/