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Lowell shelter director urges more housing, funding as beds strain services
Summary
Isaiah Stevens, managing director of the Lowell Transitional Living Center, told the Lowell City nonprofit subcommittee the shelter is operating at capacity and seeks partnerships to expand supportive housing, maintenance funding and outreach to people who avoid services.
Isaiah Stevens, managing director of the Lowell Transitional Living Center (LTLC), told the Lowell City nonprofit organization subcommittee that his shelter is stretched thin and urged the city and regional partners to help expand supportive housing and funding.
Stevens, who said he started as a volunteer in 2016 and has been LTLC’s managing director for seven years, described LTLC as “the largest homeless shelter north of Boston,” operating from 193 Middlesex Street with a 90‑bed dorm (60 men, 30 women) and a winter overflow protocol that adds roughly 50–60 extra beds. “We serve not only the Merrimack Valley, but anybody, any homeless individual in the state,” he said.
The shelter provides three meals a day, on‑site services and linked supports. Stevens listed permanent supportive housing sites associated with LTLC: 201 Middlesex Street and 205 Middlesex Street above the shelter, plus units at 47 Royal Street (6 units), 74 Andover Street (8 units) and 134 Westwood Street (21 units). He said all LTLC housing includes case management and that residents may continue using shelter services for meals and toiletries.
Stevens described a DPH‑funded program called EBP for people with active addiction or other heightened health risks and said the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center offers on‑site health care at LTLC each Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. He also described harm‑reduction counseling, on‑site STI/STD testing through a partner and volunteer opportunities at the shelter’s kitchen and donation center.
Councilors asked about fundraising and community outreach. Councilor Robinson said the council could help promote LTLC events; Stevens replied LTLC’s annual Steps to Home walkathon will move from fall to summer and that fundraising details can be shared once dates are finalized. Stevens also encouraged using city marketing channels and coordinated social media to publicize programs.
Councilors and city staff praised a volunteer “clean team” program at LTLC that pays small stipends or gives gift cards and T‑shirts to residents who maintain the exterior of the shelter. Stevens said the program grew from residents volunteering after seeing critical press and wanting to help improve the facility’s curb appeal.
Stevens asked the city and surrounding communities to collaborate on creating more affordable and supportive housing, noting that since a 2019 change LTLC accepts individuals from outside the Merrimack Valley, which he said increases demand. He also raised recurring building‑maintenance needs in what he described as a roughly 200‑year‑old facility and asked for help countering stigma about people who use shelter services.
Stevens left contact details for volunteers and donors: info@ltlc.org, and said LTLC maintains a public wish list on its website and social media.
The subcommittee praised LTLC’s work and discussed next steps for coordinating outreach, fundraising and possible summits of regional service providers.
