News and Press Releases

Message from Mark

from Hearth's Newsletter, Winter 2008

In the short time I've been here, I've noticed that the people who are drawn to Hearth and who support our work share the qualities of caring, compassion, and the courage to aim high.

I want to let you all know how much we appreciate - and rely on - your support. Financial support is crucial to our successes, so are volunteers and in-kind donations. We look forward to celebrating our volunteers on Wednesday, April 30th and hope you will join us.

Although we still have long way to go to completely end elder homelessness, we have seen some real markers of success. For example, the 2007 Boston Homeless Census found almost 700 fewer people over the age of 60 living in the shelters or on the streets compared to five years ago! Moreover, some real momentum has been gained statewide through the Massachusetts Commission to End Homelessness. The Commission just issued its report along with an actual plan with recommended funding. At the heart of that plan are strong recommendations for the creation of permanent supportive housing, the same kind Hearth has been developing since 1992.

Finally, your support has helped move our leadership initiatives forward in several ways. In Boston, we are working hard to put together the financing for our proposed project at Olmsted Green. We have convened a policy advisory panel to oversee and support our research effort, designed to build the case to strengthen supports for homeless elders that lead to permanent supportive housing statewide. In addition, we have begun the first phase of our national leadership initiative, and presented the Hearth Model to very interested colleagues in Los Angeles.

In all of this, the spirit of compassion has moved people like you to take action that will take Hearth all the sway to successfully ending elder homelessness...and for that, and your friendship, all of us at Hearth are deeply grateful.