Council on Aging and The Commons in Lincoln Join Forces to Help Prevent Homelessness in Lincoln

January 3, 2019

LINCOLN, MA–Lincoln Council on Aging (COA) and The Commons in Lincoln, a Benchmark Senior Living Community, are pleased to announce a new collaboration to benefit Lincoln residents who are homeless or at serious risk of homelessness.

The Staying at Home in Lincoln project will enable Lincoln residents who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless to stay in appropriate temporary, emergency housing while social services staff from the Town of Lincoln work to arrange permanent housing as well as any services and benefits required to ensure that the resident will be successful in their new home. This temporary, emergency housing could include area hotels or motels, assisted living facilities, or other supportive housing. The Commons in Lincoln will provide funding for the project. Both the COA and The Commons in Lincoln will work together to craft the program model and offer their unique expertise to ensure the project’s success.

The Project was developed by the COA and The Commons in Lincoln to address a growing number of residents who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. While the COA and the St. Vincent de Paul Society have over many years offered rental assistance to residents at risk of eviction because of the inability to pay rent due to some extraordinary circumstance, more recently the COA and The Commons in Lincoln have seen an increase in residents who are homeless or close to being homeless for other reasons.  These could include domestic violence and elder abuse, mental illness or physical disabilities, natural disaster, or other extreme situations.

Residents who are homeless or are at risk of being homeless are of all ages. Some have lived in Lincoln for decades while others are new to Lincoln. Some have been highly paid professionals while others have never had the advantages that have allowed them to earn a living wage. Some are single and alone while others are the heads of families with small children. For some, homelessness or the risk of homelessness is their main concern, while for others it is only one of many inter-related issues.

“The Commons in Lincoln is invested in the community and this partnership with the COA is an example of that commitment. We want to help Lincoln and its residents to work to stem homelessness,” said Reynaldo LeBlanc, campus executive director at The Commons.

Tim Higgins, Lincoln’s Town Administrator, agreed. “We are fortunate in Lincoln to have amazingly dedicated volunteers, staff and private partners who have taken the initiative to address a whole host of increasing social services needs.  This new partnership with the Commons is further evidence of our community’s  determination to help people in need and to be resourceful in the effort.  On behalf of the Selectmen and myself, thank you to all involved in this effort,” he said.

The Council on Aging is the municipal department that serves Lincoln residents 60 and older and their families so that older residents may remain safely and independently in our community. In addition, the COA assists Lincoln residents of all ages in financial emergencies and helps develop and coordinate human services for all residents in great need.

The Commons in Lincoln is a Benchmark Senior Living Community in Lincoln, Mass., offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation with the style, service and luxury expected from a five-star destination. The Commons features exceptional maintenance-free senior housing, a wide variety of premium services and amenities, a full continuum of on-site health care and is a Lifecare community.