That the City Manager is requested to meet with Solutions at Work, tour the facility at 2222 Massachusetts Avenue with relevant staff as soon as possible, and take all necessary steps to transition 2222 Massachusetts Avenue into a non-congregate homeless shelter with accompanying services

O-10 FIRST IN COUNCIL September 19, 2022 City of Cambridge COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN COUNCILLOR AZEEM WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of the City Council that the nonprofit Solutions at Work has identified an opportunity at 2222 Massachusetts Avenue to expand non-congregate shelter capacity and services for local unhoused residents; and WHEREAS: This facility is ideally configured to accommodate 16 residents in spacious individual rooms and is suitable for immediate use without any required major renovations or capital investment; and WHEREAS: This facility would expand on the success of the non-congregate facility at 11 Green Street, also operated by Solutions at Work, and would offer residents a wide range of services including (but not limited to) meals, laundry, case management, and mental health services; and WHEREAS: There is enormous emergency need for this type of facility and current options are almost always at capacity with a waiting list; and WHEREAS: This type of transitional housing is referenced and recommended in the report issued by the "Addressing Homelessness in Cambridge, MA" task force chaired by Councillor McGovern; and WHEREAS: The city must do everything possible to address Cambridge’s homelessness emergency, and this is an incredible opportunity with immediate impact that we simply cannot afford to pass up; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to meet with Solutions at Work, tour the facility at 2222 Massachusetts Avenue with relevant staff as soon as possible, and take all necessary steps to transition 2222 Massachusetts Avenue into a non-congregate homeless shelter with accompanying services; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter as soon as possible.