At the June 9th city council hearing on Cambridge’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, Vice Chairman of the Dorchester Temporary Shelter, Eric Sanner, urged city commissioners to maintain the proposed $25,000 allocation for the shelter in the final budget. His appeal highlighted both the progress made in addressing homelessness in the county and the continuing challenges faced by the shelter and the people it serves.
The Dorchester Temporary Shelter was established in the past year to respond to a growing crisis of homelessness in the county. Community support for the shelter has been strong: over $100,000 was raised locally to support its launch and early operations. That money, Sanner said, has already been spent to meet the urgent needs of unhoused residents.
The shelter operates out of the Salvation Army facility off Washington Street in Cambridge, and is partnered with Delmarva Community Services. It offers not only temporary housing but also medical and mental health support. Over the past year, the shelter has housed 22 individuals. Staff are on site whenever the shelter is open to ensure a safe environment and provide support services.
Commissioner Frank Stout raised concerns about resident safety, particularly the potential risks posed by housing unrelated individuals together. Sanner acknowledged the limitations of the current facility, stating that while ideally men, women, and families would be housed separately, the shelter does not yet have the capacity to do so. In the meantime, staffing and case management help manage any conflicts and provide necessary supervision.
During the particularly harsh winter, demand for shelter services surged. According to City Manager Glenn Steckman, the shelter was forced to place several unhoused families—many of them working families unable to afford housing—into hotel rooms until more stable solutions could be found. The county contributed support in the form of a truck to store food, while the county health department provided critical medical and mental health services.
Meals at the shelter are supplied entirely by community members, and the organization has recently applied for state grant funding to expand services to include addiction treatment and transportation.
Commissioner Brett Summers suggested that, moving forward, the city should prioritize helping unhoused families who are facing economic hardship, followed by individuals, rather than those with primarily mental health challenges. Sanner responded by emphasizing the shelter’s ongoing commitment to case management and long-term support for those who’ve already secured permanent housing.
Steckman expressed optimism that, as the nonprofit grows, it will be able to fund most of its operations independently, lessening the financial burden on the city.
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