The National Coalition for the Homeless identifies four main causes of homelessness:

Low income single mothers with children are most at risk of becoming homeless because financially they have limited access to savings, assets, and credit.  Illness, domestic violence, loss of a job, or another crisis can create a situation where they are forced to choose between paying rent or caring for their family.  

Housing is out of reach for many. In Massachusetts, a person working full time at minimum wage cannot afford a one- or two-bedroom apartment at market rents.  In addition, the lack of appropriate education limits a parent's ability to find a living wage job. Furthermore, a family's need for childcare and dependable transportation adds more barriers to maintaining a job or obtaining higher education to qualify for a higher paying job.

The lack of housing subsidies, freezes on certain subsidies, as well as many years of minimal support of the Massachusetts housing budget, have left low-income families with fewer options. Reductions in funding for education and training have also meant fewer options to increase earning power.

The widening gap between the demand for affordable housing units and the supply of affordable housing has created a housing crisis. The shortage of affordable housing has resulted in rents that absorb a disproportionately high share of income, leaving many only an illness, accident or paycheck away from becoming homeless.

The Citizens for Adequate Housing believes that the way to help the homeless is to not only provide a place to stay-but to also address these four root causes of homelessness.

In 1983 Mary Jane Lee worked with St. John's Church in Peabody and a group of local residents to address the growing problem of family homelessness.  They incorporated Citizens for Adequate Housing and two years later opened their first shelter, the Inn Between in Peabody.

At that time Mary Jane Lee said, "Homeless people should not be forced to live on the streets, in cars or in motels. It shouldn't happen. There's no justifiable reason for someone to be without a place to live; it's a basic right."

Since then, the mission of the Citizens for Adequate Housing has been to "support families with dignity and respect, as they live in either our emergency shelter, the Inn Between; or in our sober living transitional housing shelter, the Inn Transition; or in one of our affordable housing apartments offered through our Inn Homes (formerly called the Communities Land Trust)."

An emergency program for homeless families, the Inn Between is a lovely Victorian home which houses six families at a time, and includes one fully handicapped-accessible room. In this program the CAH also maintains a "community room," available for homeless families in the community who are ineligible for shelter assistance from the state.

The Inn Transition program provides a six-month sober-living transitional housing program to eight families at a time (with one handicap accessible unit). As one of only two transitional housing programs in the state permitting homeless families to remain together when a parent is in recovery from alcohol and substance abuse, Inn Transition serves families from the North Shore and Greater Boston areas. The program offers several support programs and services to help residents in their recovery and self-sufficiency.

The CAH Inn Homes Program purchases, renovates and maintains affordable rental housing throughout the city of Peabody.  They currently have 16 units in five multi-family homes throughout Peabody which are rented to low-income families.

The Citizens for Adequate Housing is a blend of nurture, professional case management, programs and services, empathy, and even a little "tough love," resulting in a program respected by their professional peers and business partners and beloved by those they have served.

Corey Jackson, President of CAH, explains, "I've been

Corey Jackson, President of Citizens for Adequate Housing

here for just a year and a half ... but I have prior experience with this organization, having served on the Board just after graduating from college.  As president it is my vision to push forward on new projects and to explore more permanent ways to solve homelessness.  I'm looking at a more long-term model that helps to ensure success for families who struggle with minimum wage jobs, balancing the cost of rent, food, and other expenses."

Corey has a history of experience in community service - first as a six-year-old at his dad's side.  His father served on the first CAH Board of Directors and was instrumental in the founding of the organization.

"This was a real eye-opener for me.  The early Citizens for Adequate Housing met in our living room when I was a youngster and throughout my teenage years.  It taught me about public and community service.  After college I really became interested in community development activities.  I have an intense interest in the arts, so five years ago I started working with Arts After Hours in Lynn."

"During my time with CAH, I've seen an amazing wealth of community support.  There was an abundance of gifts for both children and adults donated for the families in our programs over the holidays," Corey said.

Each November a Gala Fundraiser is held with several business sponsors, including Solimine Funeral Homes.  Last year's event raised over $115,000 for the Citizens for Adequate Housing.

Corey explained his plans to initiate a "cause marketing" program with local businesses.  "The Solimine Family, through the Solimine Development Corporation has kick-started this fundraising program with their pledge to donate $1,000 for every one of the homes sold in their 112 housing development on the Lynn/Peabody line.  We have already received $3,000 for the first three homes built and sold!"

He described how a business might participate:  "A company can take part in this program by offering to donate X if a customer purchases Y.  We can be very creative in cause marketing.  Businesses are invited to call me at 978-531-9775 to discuss how they can help."