Salem To Host 'The Many Faces of Homelessness' At Peabody Essex Museum

SALEM, MA — A public symposium designed to educate residents about the many causes of homelessness and how it can be mitigated in the city is set for the Peabody Essex Museum on Sept. 20.

The Samaritan Charitable Society is hosting "The Many Faces of Homelessness" at 6:45 p.m. at the museum with former WBZ-TV reporter and Rev. Liz Walker moderating the discussion that follows remarks from keynote speaker Jim O'Connell, president of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless program.

O'Connell's programs have become a national model for providing help for those in need and comprise the subject of Tracy Kidder's book "Rough Sleepers."

He is also the author of the book "Stories from the Shadows," and was recently the subject of the New York Times article "You Have to Learn to Listen: How a Doctor Cares for Boston's Homeless."

Walker is a 2005 graduate of Harvard Divinity School and leads the Cory Johnson Program for Post Traumatic Healing. The program is named after a young, murdered member of Roxbury Presbyterian Church, where Rev. Walker served as pastor until 2021.

The panel will include Jason Ethridge, President of Lifebridge North Shore, Rachel Hand, Executive Director, Family Promise North Shore, Veronica Miranda, Salem School Committee member and Salem Housing Authority Board Commissioner, and Felicia Pierce, Deputy CEO, North Shore Community Development Coalition, and Director of YouthBuild.

"The goal of this symposium is educational," Samaritans president Rachel Lutts said. "It will help people understand who is unhoused today, why, and how we as individuals and as a community can help them.

"It will be with a shared sense of urgency that we work with our many community partners to alleviate homelessness in our city."

The symposium is free, but donations are appreciated. To register or to learn more about the Samaritans go to thesamaritansociety.org.

In the course of the organization's work helping Salem residents with financial needs, ranging from mattresses to medical expenses, the Samaritans have seen new and different needs arise and become more widespread. Those who are struggling and require assistance are often working parents or senior citizens living on social security.

The Samaritans is one of Salem’s oldest charities and provides one-time assistance to Salem residents facing a financial crisis, often partnering with other local social service providers.