Somerville Homeless Coalition Opens Expanded Shelter

SOMERVILLE, MA — City leaders and community members gathered to celebrate the expansion of a longtime Somerville homeless shelter.

The Somerville Homeless Coalition has expanded its adult shelter from 16 to 26 beds as the organization completed its relocation to First Church Somerville at 89 College Ave. The new shelter is fully accessible and replaces the coalition’s longtime location at 64 College Ave., which had operated for roughly four decades.

The coalition partnered with First Church on the project after determining that its former shelter was deteriorating, lacked the space needed to increase capacity, and was not accessible to people with mobility disabilities. The new location includes approximately 4,000 square feet of space with three dormitory areas, a kitchen, bathrooms, and a multipurpose room. Renovations also included accessibility improvements such as an accessible bathroom and shower.

“A celebration on College Ave as the Somerville Homeless Coalition, in partnership with First Church Somerville welcome the expansion of their shelter from 16 beds to 26 beds and making it fully accessible for their community,” Somerville Mayor Jake Wilson said. “I am grateful to everyone who helped bring us to this moment and everyone who is committed to making this center a success!”

The additional 10 beds represent a more than 60 percent increase in capacity for the coalition, which has previously said its adult shelter regularly maintains a waiting list. Those seeking emergency shelter through the organization are required to complete an intake before being added to the waitlist.

The expansion comes after a lengthy effort to relocate the shelter that faced opposition from some nearby residents. Somerville issued a building permit for renovations at 89 College Ave. in June 2024 before neighbors challenged the project. The city’s Zoning Board of Appeals denied the appeal in August 2024, allowing the shelter project to move forward.

Two residents later appealed the decision in Massachusetts Land Court, arguing in part that the shelter should not qualify for zoning protections afforded to religious uses under the state’s Dover Amendment. Concerns were also raised about the potential impact of the shelter on neighborhood safety, noise, and property values.

Land Court Judge Diane Rubin ruled in favor of First Church in April, determining that the shelter furthered the church’s religious mission and qualified for protection under the Dover Amendment. The decision cleared a major legal obstacle for the project nearly two years after the city first issued a permit for renovations.

First Church and the Somerville Homeless Coalition have worked together for more than two decades, including through a weekly community meal hosted at the church. The partnership to relocate the shelter was intended to provide additional capacity while making emergency shelter available to residents who could not be accommodated at the former location because of mobility and accessibility limitations.

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