First Church Shelter

Since 1987, First Church Shelter has provided a basic act of mercy to the poor and homeless of Cambridge and surrounding communities. Each evening 14 men are provided with a safe, comfortable place to stay. Our guests have access to two meals, showers and personal storage facilities for their belongings.First Church Shelter also offers guests assistance with identifying and securing resources they need to move out of homelessness. A significant portion of that assistantance comes from a partnership between the Shelter and Homestart.Shelter staff are available to help guests negotiate the frequently difficult and intimidating process of applying for public benefits or subsidized housing.Both the Shelter and the larger church community have consistently engaged in public action to help address those factors that help precipitate and perpetuate homelessness and persistent poverty. The Shelter sponsors an annual lecture and award in honor of the late Mitch Snyder. Snyder’s singular commitment to the poor and homeless, while originating in Washington, D.C., helped spur nationwide action around the scandal of homelessness and poverty in the world’s richest, most powerful nation. The Mitch Snyder Lectures help focus the attention of people within and outside First Church community, on critical issues related to addressing homelessness and poverty.