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1986 A group of compassionate citizens concerned with homeless adults sleeping in cars open the 20 bed Middlesex Shelter. The shelter provides beds, hot meals, and shower facilities to men and women. |
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1986-1994 The shelter grows to 90 beds to meet demand caused by a decrease in inpatient services by the Department of Mental Health, and budget cuts in the Department of Social Services and the Department of Youth Services. The shelter also experienced an increase in homeless elderly. There is an overflow of demand in winter months. 1996 The Middlesex Shelter grows to become a multiservice agency, providing a range of services to meet the needs of a diverse homeless population. 1998 The shelter, in response to local and national trends, adopts a “sober” policy and opens up 45 emergency winter beds for all comers. 2000 The organization is renamed to the Lowell Transitional Living Center to reflect the multi-service work being done, and to commit to the belief that those being served are in transition from homelessness to being housed in a place of their own. 2007 LTLC joins city leaders to create and implement the City of Lowell’s 10 Year Action Plan to End Homelessness - an ambitious plan to move away from the system of sheltering the homeless to an innovative and cost effective "Housing First" model of permanent supportive housing and employment. |
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| Today, the LTLC serves over 1100 people a year, providing emergency shelter, transitional shelter, an active meals program, and a very successful case management program. Over 300 volunteers support our mission and goals. We believe that a consistent, client-driven approach toward self-reliance is the most effective way to end homelessness. At the LTLC, we focus all of our efforts in helping clients make a positive change in their life. There is hope. There is help. |
