Boston Globe video story on Harvard Sq shelter

Can not say enough good things about the students who run this place.



The print edition also writes about the shelter

Volunteering spirit catches fire

Young adults donate time, embrace the chance to give back

At Harvard, the Winthrop Street homeless shelter is one of 86 service and social change programs associated with the Phillips Brooks House Association, which is a student-run nonprofit. Students can work with deaf children, tutor prison inmates, bring pets to nursing homes, and prepare Chinese students to become US citizens, among other opportunities.

The Harvard Square shelter provides shelter, food, and resource counseling for a minimum of 24 guests each night, as well as dinner plates for those who come to the door. The shelter also has a “street team’’ of students who go out each night to bring food and conversation to homeless people.

It is a wonderful place.

A great book about the student run shelter in Harvard Square

I have blogged about the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter and it is a place I have spent many nights since November when it opened.

A Harvard student who helped out at HSHS for 3 years blogged about a book that has been written about what the students do. I spent some time at the Harvard Coop browsing through it today and it is a great read.

Here is a review.

I can not express enough gratitude to what these students do in running the shelter.


Here is a link to Amazon about the book

1/22 - It's getting cold out there

I was not lucky enought to get a bed last night at 9:30 which meant back to Logan Airport. Hopefully tonight I will be luckier.

Of course the fact that it is very cold in Boston tonight and they saying it will drop under 10 overnight would indicate that anybody who has a bed secured will not be taking a night out. The shelter in Harvard Sq at 9:30 PM gives out the beds to people calling in at 1 888 656 3414 and it is simply luck.

The worst part for me is the not knowing until 9:30 if I will be OK for the night. I can't even apply for a 14 day bed until late next week as I am on my 7 days out.

The system is just clogged right now with too many people and too few beds.

I am open to any options at this point.

Wish me luck for tonight.

Happy New Year - 2011

I haven't been able to post since Christmas as I was in Norwood Hospital for a week with an infection in my left leg ( it is a chronic problem )

So it is 8 PM and I am waiting until 9:30 to find out where I sleep tonight....at a shelter in Cambridge or the Logan hotel....

Those of you who wander through Harvard Sq take a walk through the Garage any night at 9 PM and see just how many are waiting, praying they will get a bed. Since the shelter will not admit anyone who is not clean and sober EVERYBODY there is in the same boat.

I am totally worn out....

Every morning I apply for the 2 week lottery and on average 10-15 are applying for ONE bed. It is a BRUTAL lifestyle.

This is how the shelter works

The age range is from late teens to 70.....

As to my situation which I have blogged previously about...nothing has changed

I need help

Thanks for reading

When it rains it pours......I need eyeglasses

I simply can not believe how bad my luck is right now....

Since November 15th (when it opened) I have been spending most evenings at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter which is totally run by Harvard students.

The shelter works this way as their website indicates

Two Week Beds: We are now lotterying all 14-night beds. Callers may call in between 7:30am and 8:00am to put their name in the lottery at which point the caller will receive a lottery number. The lottery will be run between 8:00am and 8:05am. People may call back between 8:05am and 8:30am as well as between 7pm and 9pm to find out if their lottery number was picked. Lottery numbers that have been selected (but not names) will also be posted on the shelter door during the day.

One Night Bed: When a guest with a reserved two week bed is not able to make it to the shelter that night, their bed is open for others to use as an emergency one night bed. Call in the evening at 9:30PM for a one-night bed.

So when the shelter opened I was able to get a bed for 8 days ( as when they open they do not give out all 14 night beds ) and then on several nights have been able to get a 'one night bed'.

If I don't get a one-night bed, it is off to the airport for a very uncomfortable sleep.

So that is good, but going to the shelter cost me dearly in another way.

Just 2 weeks ago I got a new set of bifocals as my old frame was broken. My insurance allows one set of eyeglasses a year. I put the eyeglasses inside my shoes when I went to sleep and someone stole them. Now on top of everything else I am can't see except to read.

If anyone has any suggestions on where I can go to get an inexpensive pair of glasses I would be very grateful.

Thanks