Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development

Lysa Newhall, Youth Program Development Coordinator

174 South Common Street - Caggiano Plaza

Lynn, MA 01905

781-581-8760

www.lhand.org

Organization Overview:

The mission of Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development is to provide decent, safe and quality affordable housing, for all residents of the City of Lynn, along with a number of homeowner assistance programs funded by the City of Lynn, through the Department of Economic & Community Development.  We are pleased to work with Mayor Edward J. “Chip” Clancy, Jr., the Lynn City Council, led by Council President James Cowdell and our state delegation including Senator Tom McGee, Representative Bob Fennell and Representative Steve Walsh. The agency is continually changing and now encompasses accessing a comprehensive housing strategy for the City of Lynn.  This strategy includes administering “traditional” housing programs such as family and elderly/disabled public housing and rental assistance programs.  At LHAND, they administer programs on both the federal and state level.  The Lynn Housing Authority’s developments include Caggiano Plaza, Woodman Street, Essex & Tilton, McGee House/Green Street, Olive Street, Meadow Court, Wall Plaza and Curwin Circle.  It also includes the administration of CDBG and HOME Funds, HOPWA Funds, the management of private rental units and a whole host of other community-related services that benefit the neighborhoods of our city.*

            Youth Programming:

                        Approximately 260 youth of Curwin Circle, ages 5-19 are placed into various programs including recreational, after school, summer activities etc. Through College Bound, a group of fifteen third-fifth graders are taken to Gordon College Monday-Thursday after school for homework help, enrichment activities, mentoring, and exposure to a college environment. Ten first-second graders are tutored at Curwin Circle by Gordon students.  The youth programming at the Lyn n Housing Authority also works with its youth to connect them to their guidance counselors, informing the school of scholarship opportunities offered through LHAND.

Best Practices:

            -Taking youth to an actual college campus and hosting an after-school program in a college environment.

            -Informing school guidance counselors of the organization’s scholarship opportunities.

Areas of college access it addresses:

            Academic Readiness: Homework help and tutoring provide academic assistance to participants, helping them succeed academically.

Social Readiness—The youth tutored by Gordon Students are given the opportunity to work one-on-one with college students, entering into a relationship where they can learn about the college experience.

College Information Awareness—The third, fourth, and fifth graders who come to Gordon College’s campus have the opportunity to explore the physical space of college as well as form meaningful relationships with the students who tutor them.

            Financial Awareness: The Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development offers aid for students pursuing higher education.