Please considering coming to this meeting if you support opening the new SHC Shelter on College Ave
Todd Kaplan
Dear Neighbors,
The Somerville Homeless Coalition (SHC) and First Church Somerville (FCS) invite you to an upcoming neighborhood meeting to discuss the opening of the new homeless shelter at FCS and to engage in an open, constructive conversation about how the shelter will operate on a day-to-day basis.
The goal of this meeting is to review and discuss key topics related to shelter operations that had emerged during the neighborhood engagement process. Representatives from SHC’s Leadership Team and Board of Directors, along with representatives from First Church Somerville, will be present to lead a discussion and answer questions. Discussion topics will include day-to-day activities, safety, facilities, points of contact for any concerns and other suggested topics.
This is an opportunity to share perspectives, ask questions and participate in a respectful dialogue about how we can work together as a community while supporting both local neighbors and individuals staying at the shelter. We will be meeting in-person for this first meeting as a way to encourage open discussion and a more natural flow of conversation.
Meeting Details:
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Time: 6:15 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: First Church Somerville, 89 College Avenue – Duhamel Hall (Ground Floor)
As part of our original commitment to the community, we are providing at least 30 days’ notice prior to the shelter’s opening. The current target date for relocation and the start of operations is Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Should any changes become necessary, the opening will not occur earlier than this date.
We encourage you to attend and participate in a solution-oriented discussion as this input is important in helping shape a positive path forward.
Please note that this meeting invitation is being directly shared only with those on this distribution list in order to support a focused and productive conversation among nearby residents - if there are other neighbors that you know of (not on this distribution list) who are interested in attending, they are also welcome to attend. While we understand that some may be unable to attend, remote participation will not be available - we will schedule future meetings via Zoom. A high-level written summary of key topics discussed, along with any agreements or decisions, will be shared following the meeting.
We also welcome and encourage you to submit topics for discussion in advance so we can come prepared to discuss them. Please feel free to reply to this email (shelt...@shcinc.org) with your topics of interest.
Thank you for your time and involvement. We look forward to seeing you there.
Thank you,
Mike Libby Rev. Jenn Macy
Somerville Homeless Coalition First Church Somerville
(Attachment: Shelter Operations Document - October, 2024)