ULI Homeless to Housed Case Study: Harbor Crossing
Supportive housing for young adults in Salem, Massachusetts
The idea for Harbor Crossing came together in 2017 during a Youth Homelessness Forum hosted by the city of Salem, where organizations, public schools, and constituents across the city came together to discuss the growing need for affordable housing. The forum’s participants included YouthBuild students from their Youth Workforce Development program and alums who spoke about the challenges of finding safe, affordable housing or even shelter beds. YouthBuild is an award-winning, nationally affiliated workforce development program for young adults ages 16 to 24. It provides various services to participants, including mental health services and career readiness preparation. It also offers vocational training in construction, the culinary arts, health care, and educational classes to help young adults earn their high school diplomas.
Case Study Summary: Nestled on Harbor Street in the Salem, Massachusetts, historic Point neighborhood, Harbor Crossing represents a pivotal North Shore Community Development Coalition (North Shore CDC) project. Located at 15–17 Harbor Street, Harbor Crossing is North Shore CDC’s first apartment building dedicated to addressing the pressing needs of young adults ages 18 to 24 transitioning out of foster care or facing homelessness. It was remodeled in 2018 by ICON Architecture, North Shore CDC, and Groom Construction Co. Inc. as part of Harbor and Lafayette Homes’ renovations. North Shore CDC is a community development corporation based in Salem that invests resources in neighborhoods across the North Shore of Boston.
The idea for Harbor Crossing came together in 2017 during a Youth Homelessness Forum hosted by the city of Salem, where organizations, public schools, and constituents across the city came together to discuss the growing need for affordable housing. The forum’s participants included YouthBuild students from their Youth Workforce Development program and alums who spoke about the challenges of finding safe, affordable housing or even shelter beds. YouthBuild is an award-winning, nationally affiliated workforce development program for young adults ages 16 to 24. It provides various services to participants, including mental health services and career readiness preparation. It also offers vocational training in construction, the culinary arts, health care, and educational classes to help young adults earn their high school diplomas.