Homelessness
Hope Is Here
A sign reading "Hope is Here" welcomes guests to Y2Y, a shelter for homeless youth in Harvard Square that opened in late December 2015.
Clothes Cabinet
Guests at Y2Y can choose clothes from a row of cabinets which store clothes, ranging from business attire to winter coats and socks.
Box of Socks
Guests at Y2Y can choose clothes from a row of cabinets which store clothes, ranging from business attire to winter coats and socks.
Jayzena Hernandez
"It feels like home," says Jayzena Hernandez, who recently had a 30-night stay at Y2Y.
Break Down
Shayne A. Lozano '18 and Jorge A. Ledesma '19 stack chairs as they break down Y2Y in the morning after most guests had left. After the shelter closes each morning at 8, volunteers clean the space for the following night.
Stories from Boston's Homeless Youth
Two young homeless women talk about their lives and living in the Harvard Square Y2Y youth homeless shelter. Cynthia Guo & Madeline Lear/The Harvard Crimson
A Bright Future
"I have a sense of hope. Even though I'm going through what I'm going through, I still see a bright future ahead of me," explained Ayisha Monique Eddins, 22, a guest at Y2Y. Eddins hopes to pursue a career in psychology.
Boston Mayor Selects Company to Fight Homelessness
Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh recently selected data analytics company Green River as the vendor to carry out his plan to end chronic homelessness in Boston by 2018 by using data analytics to connect resources with those in need.
Student Homeless Shelters Attract Influx of Volunteers
Both the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter and the newly opened Y2Y Youth Homeless Shelter had more volunteers apply for shifts than could be accommodated.
New Public Toilet Opens in Harvard Square
A small crowd donned “I love toilets” stickers for the grand opening of a new public restroom installment in General MacArthur Park on Friday.
Mardi Gras Drive Seeks Female Hygiene Products for Homeless Shelters
A non-profit led by an undergraduate is holding a two-day donation drive in the Science Center plaza for feminine hygiene products.
Mardi Bras
Eudora L. Olsen ’17, founder of the Hygiene Campaign at a donation event in Science Center. Her group is dedicated to donating feminine products to homeless women and changing the conversation about menstruation.
Cambridge Shelters Team Up to Address Homelessness
The Harvard Square Homeless Shelter and the newly opened Y2Y Youth Homeless Shelter introduced a joint volunteer recruiting initiative in an effort to share resources in their combined mission of combating homelessness in Cambridge
Cambridge Homeless Prepare for Winter
Though the fear of winter is ever-present for Cambridge’s homeless population, shelters, including the new student-run initiative Y2Y Harvard Square, aim to mitigate the additional strains felt during winter months with increased resources.
Elizabeth Warren at Y2Y Opening
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke at the opening celebration for Y2Y Harvard Square, the youth homeless shelter that will be opening in December. “All young people have a right to live safely and with dignity,” Senator Warren said. “Y2Y Harvard Square will play an important role as a safe place and resource for youth in our community who need a chance to get back on their feet.”
Y2Y Youth Homeless Shelter Celebrates Upcoming Opening
The shelter, set to open to young adults between the ages 18 and 24 in December, looks to serve as a “sanctuary” for local homeless youth.
Greenberg and Rosenkrantz at Y2Y Opening
Sarah A. Rosenkrantz ’14 and Samuel G. Greenberg ’14 speak at the opening celebration for Y2Y Harvard Square. The shelter will be home to 22 gender-inclusive beds for homeless young adults ages 18 to 24.
Y2Y Opening Celebration
Sarah A. Rosenkrantz ’14 and Samuel G. Greenberg ’14 receive a standing ovation as they thank the community for their assistance in creating Y2Y Harvard Square, a youth-led homeless shelter set to open in December.
Felicia Lovejoy at Y2Y’s Opening
Felicia Lovejoy, a Boston-based musician, performs at the Y2Y Harvard Square opening celebration. The event took place on Nov. 6 in First Parish Church, whose basement is home to the shelter opening in December.
Black Lives Matter March Calls for Reforms
Harvard students joined activists from Black Lives Matter in Cambridge as they marched down Massachusetts Avenue on Sunday, rallying for affordable housing protection and wage reform.