Warming center for at-risk homeless residents on Lowell City Council agenda

LOWELL — As temperatures across the city begin to plummet this winter, the City Council wants to come up with a plan to keep people in need safe. The Authority will review and consider the possibility of implementing warming center protocol on his own Tuesday evening meeting at the city hall.

The policy is the result of months of discussion and several proposals from councilors aimed at keeping at-risk groups such as the homeless safe.

“In the event of a weather emergency, the Lowell Senior Center, located at 276 Broadway Street, will be used to provide a safe temporary space for individuals and/or families, according to the Director of Emergency Management,” the document dated 25 states. October.

The warming station will be staffed by Lowell Police and Fire Department personnel, a custodian, and, as needed, a public health nurse and emergency medical personnel.

The warming center will open when the National Weather Service issues a severe weather warning and will be launched under the direction of the City, Department of Health, Senior Center, LPD and LFD to “confirm the opening and hours of operation of the heating-cooling plant. These individuals will continue to meet throughout the event as needed and determine when the station will close.”

The main discussion on protocol planning took place at Meeting on August 27 council after the body has received petition dozens of residents signed a request to “provide shelter for people who need it when the weather is too hot or too cold to be safe.”

The request was organized by several advocacy groups that have been active in housing and homelessness issues, including Solidarity Lowell, Merrimack Valley Project, and Lifting Lowell Residents: Aid and Mutual Aid.

Several members of these organizations addressed the council.

“The least we can do is protect people from extreme and dangerous weather conditions,” said Ryan Oates, a member of Solidarity Lowell. “Expanding our cooling and heating centers is a small but significant first step.”

Several speakers expressed concern about the impact of the Life Connection Center’s closure on the homeless. When the Appleton Street nonprofit closed in May 2023, the community lost a large walk-in center that stayed open until nearly midnight and also provided bathrooms and nutrition programs, Councilor Wayne Jenness noted in a speech.

“The nights will be cold and there will be fewer places for people to escape the cold like at Life Connection,” he said.

His motion from the floor in response to a citizen petition asked City Manager Tom Golden to develop a plan specifically for this winter.

“We want options, we put price tags on them and make sure everyone can understand exactly what we’re looking at and how much it’s going to cost the city,” Jenness said.

To date, the city has spent approximately $10 million on supports and services for Lowell’s homeless over the past few years, using a combination of the American Rescue Plan Act. Community Development GrantsHOME Investment Partnership Program and grant funding for emergency solutions.

ARPA was signed into law by President Joe Biden in March 2021. Lowell received a $75.9 million allocation to help with ongoing pandemic recovery efforts. Golden said that the services provided to the homeless population through the city’s funding streams were not only inconsistent with other cities and towns around Lowell, but also that those neighboring cities benefited from Lowell’s significant support for the homeless.

“When we opened the warming centers at the Senior Center, other cities were dropping people off,” Golden said. “We’re spending money trying to achieve this goal… but I don’t see other cities doing anything other than dropping people off at our doorstep. On the list of things we support, I see the city of Lowell doing it—I don’t see anyone else doing it.”

Council members John Descoteaux, Rita Mercier and Eric Gitschier spoke about the city needing more state and federal support to address the growing homelessness crisis.

“When the ARPA money runs out, we will all be shocked,” Gitscher said. “We cannot give back the money we gave.”

His motion to have Golden send a citizen petition to U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan and the state delegation asking for resources to cover the cost of services and supports for the homeless passed unanimously by roll call vote.

“This is a homeless emergency,” Mercier said. “That’s what we have right here in this city.”

City Council meets in the second floor chambers of City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street, on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. To speak at a meeting, contact City Clerk Michael Geary before 4:00 pm on the day of the meeting at 978-674-4161. or [email protected].