Case for Support: Lazarus House Ministries, Lawrence, MA
Since 1983, Lazarus House has supported our Guests as they overcome immense challenges, providing them with food, shelter, clothing, advocacy, and the life-skills necessary for building healthy and sustainable lives towards a path to self-sufficiency.
The Need:
We operate in the gateway city of Lawrence, where almost 90,000 people live in less than seven square miles. It is one of the poorest cities in Massachusetts where 19.4% of the population live at or below the poverty level. Many Lawrence residents, especially low-income families and people of color, are finding it increasingly difficult to afford decent housing because of the limited affordable housing, high rents and an older housing stock. These issues have led to an increase in residents at risk of eviction, living in substandard conditions or becoming unhoused.
The impact of the high housing and food costs on our Guests and the families we serve has led to increasing numbers of individuals and families coming to us for housing, support and groceries. Homelessness affects people of all ages, affecting health, psychological wellbeing, educational advancement, and wage-earning capacity. The hardest hit has been single mothers with young children and the elderly living on fixed incomes. Often, they cannot afford to buy enough food, so they eat smaller portions, skip meals, or sometimes run out of food altogether. Some have resorted to living in their cars when their funds run out.
Our Impact:
Last year, Lazarus House helped over 30,000 families and individuals living in poverty meet their basic needs, regain their dignity and build their capacity for long-term stability. Through our food services, emergency shelter, transitional housing and advocacy programs, we have provided:
- Nourishment, through 150+ meals served per day, seven days a week and supplemental groceries distributed to over 1,700+ families each week
- Stability, through our emergency shelter and transitional housing for 120 families a year
- Care and guidance through life-skills training, advocacy, and case management
You can make a difference. Tonight, too many of our neighbors will go to bed hungry and without a safe place to sleep. These are not just statistics; with your support, we can change that. Your gift provides more than food and shelter. It can offer a path forward. Give today.