After 20 years in operation in Boston, Casa Nueva Vida is doing something few organizations can do in the midst of a recession – it is growing. The agency opened a second shelter in Lawrence in March and is planning a Grand Opening on September 17, 2009. Much of the money needed to restore the historical Victorian home on Jackson Street came from generous contributions from foundations such as Charlesbank Homes, Verizon, Citibank, Massachusetts Charitable Society, George H. & Jane A. Mifflin Memorial Fund, Abbot & Dorothy H. Stevens Foundation, Agnes M. Lindsay Trust, an anonymous Charitable Fund, the Franklin Square House Foundation and the Charlotte Home. These, and other, supporters have been the shelter’s saving grace more than once over the last two decades.
Casa Nueva Vida («House of New Life») is the only homeless shelter in the state of Massachusetts with a completely bilingual staff. We believe our 22 years of experience makes us ideally capable of providing a unique, specialized package of services and programs to some of the most vulnerable members of society. Our Mission is to ‘To help homeless families gain the education and skills needed to permanently pull themselves out of poverty and into stable affordable housing.’ We are proud to say that since the shelter was founded in 1987 in Boston, we have served over 625 homeless families»
The new Jackson Street shelter contains 12 individual rooms for resident families, 5 bathrooms, office space, a playroom and a computer lab. Homeless families, with their children, stay in the home until they find safe, affordable, permanent housing. The agency provides Computer/ Job Training, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, Personal Empowerment. Children’s / Teen’s Education Program, Professional Counseling, Housing Placement and Stabilization services, On Call Nurse and 7×24 Supervision.
More information about Casa Nueva Vida at 57 Lawrence Street, Lawrence can be obtained by calling 617 524 6332 x 202, by emailing aramis.tirado@casanuevavida.orgor by visiting our website atwww.casanuevavida.org
