BOSTON, MA – As a pale pink sunset fell across the Boston skyline, guests at Venezia Restaurant in East Boston were serenaded by the sound of the AJ Smooth Band for an upscale cocktail hour with a cause: putting a hard stop to homelessness in Boston.
“For the ones that cannot fight for themselves, we will fight for you,” said Paris Swindle, co-Director of Solutions At Work who has been with the organization for over 25 years.
Founded in 1984 by Macy Delong and a collaborative group of peers, Solutions At Work has remained “dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty & homelessness by providing individuals & families with resources & opportunities to strengthen their self-confidence, achieve self-sufficiency and participate in helping others.”
How do they do this? Covering as many bases as they can for the unhoused. From providing 50 meals each night in Central Square Cambridge, work attire for those seeking jobs, and building a gently used trading system for homeless & low-income parents to swap out children’s clothes, this is just the tip of the iceberg: In 2021, the foundation also opened the Green Street Shelter offering housing and mental health services.
What’s the vibe?: A stunning sunset view of the Boston skyline serves as the backdrop for this classic Italian ballroom.
“They opened a shelter, they’re doing meal prep every day, it’s just a lot of outreach that they’re doing and it’s actually boots on the ground,” beams Preston Barber, newest Board Member to join the Solutions At Work team.
Is their work having an impact? Just ask T.J. Williams. “This October, I’m celebrating 8 years that I have my own moving company,” says the owner of Home On The Go Moving Company. “When I started at Solutions At Work, I was homeless, I’d been homeless for about a year and a half. They helped me transition from just working, to owning and operating and managing and trying to help others find their way.”
What’s next for the organization? Keep an eye out for a new 8 story building on Mass Ave that will boast 83 units – estimated to cost $45 million in state, city and internal funding. It’s a step Justina Riopelle says will help not only those who are currently without housing, but offer hope for a new generation. “23 years ago my mother was homeless and pregnant. Once she had her baby girl, she used Solutions Wear to get dressed up to go on job interviews to get back on her feet….The organization was a comforting place where she felt empowered and accepted,” says Riopelle. “Today, my mother’s baby girl is a Souther New Hampshire University graduate.”
Emmalyn Reid 