Raising awareness of Boston’s homeless issues

In observance of Homelessness Awareness Month, The Rotary Club of Boston #7 partnered with Fisher College Student Government Association (SGA) and Common Good Club to sponsor a well-attended event to raise awareness of Boston’s homeless issues. 

The panel of service providers spoke candidly about their struggles to locate and care for the hundreds left homeless and without a safety net. The cold winter weather exacerbates the problems of 1) lack of daytime shelter 2) crowded sleeping conditions for men 3) insufficient sleeping quarters for women.  The purpose was to discuss at an open forum, the issues the City of Boston is facing regarding the future of the people previously housed at the Long Island Homeless Shelter, who were displaced by the sudden closure of the Long Island bridge in September 2014.

 

The panelists fielded questions from the audience. Panelists included: Elizabeth Keeley, Executive Director, The Women’s Lunch Place, Rotarian and Panel Moderator; Davida Ginsberg, Self-Advocacy Organizer, Rosie’s Place; Jamie O’Neal O’Loughlin, Development Coordinator/Special Events Director, Friends of Boston’s Homeless; Kelley Doel, Program Director, The Women’s Lunch Place.  Boston Rotarians involved with this event included president Glenn Quirion and vice-president Shiela Lally.