We recently spoke with Sylvia Kelly, Housing Stabilization Advocate at the City of Cambridge, at our annual meeting. Here are the highlights of our discussion.
Q: Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your role with the City of Cambridge?
A: I’m a Housing Stabilization Manager for the City of Cambridge, and I’ve been doing this since the start of COVID, back in 2020. Before that, for 35 years, I’ve been working with folks on the margins, you know, through places like MBHP Housing and the Women’s Lunch Place. So, I’m all about helping people find and keep their homes. Whether it’s after a fire, or if their place is condemned, or if they’re in a shelter, or even living on the streets… My job is to meet them where they’re at and help them get settled. And let me tell you, finding a home is one thing, but making it feel like home? That’s where Household Goods comes in. It’s the difference between four bare walls and a place that’s truly yours.
Q: What’s it like explaining to people what’s going to happen at Household Goods? Can it be overwhelming for them?
A: It can be a little! I usually drive them out there, and we chat a lot on the way. I try to make it sound like a shopping trip, you know? “We’re going shopping in this big, organized warehouse!” I walk them through it, beds first, then dressers, living room… I try to take away the fear, especially for those who haven’t been out much. But then, when they walk in the door, it’s just… warmth. And no judgment. And the patience! Oh my goodness, the volunteers are so patient. They really are!
Q: Is that experience unusual for them?
A: Oh, absolutely. You see, a lot of the folks I work with, they haven’t been… well, they haven’t been listened to. They’ve had to beg and plead just to be heard. But at Household Goods? They’re listened to. Like, one client last week, she just wanted white dishes, clear glasses, white furniture. And they made it happen! They took her right to the things she wanted, and she was just over the moon. I see how folks get treated in other places, and sometimes I have to be their advocate. But at Household Goods? I never have to worry. Everyone’s treated equally, with kindness and respect. And patience. Even when I’m rushing because the movers are coming, you all just take the time.
Q: You’re out in the field a lot, seeing the apartments people move into. Can you give us a sense of what they’re like?
A: Well, a lot of them are through the Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA). The apartments are often small, you know, maybe 550, 650 square feet. A galley kitchen, living room, bedroom. But when they’re empty, they feel huge. I remember one client, she and her son had to leave their condemned home, and we got them into a place through the CHA. It was just… echo-y. They couldn’t stay there like that. We got them to Household Goods quickly, and when we delivered the furniture, her son, a stoic teenager, he just started crying. “This is the first bed I’ve ever had,” he said. And his mom, she was baking something for us to eat…. it was wonderful. They still call everything they got “treasures.”
Q: You said you try to keep people in their housing, too. Do you think having furniture helps?
A: Oh, absolutely. I have a client now, she’s got some issues, and her apartment was just… not good. I’ve been showing her the Household Goods website, explaining what they offer, and finally, she said, “Alright, I’m in.” That’s what’s going to keep her housed, I’m convinced. We all just need a place to call home, right? And having stuff around you that you love, that’s a huge part of it.
Q: Can you tell us a favorite story about your experience with Household Goods?
A: Oh, Eugene! He’s just the sweetest guy. I met him on the day he became homeless, out of the blue. His partner had passed away, and Eugene wasn’t on the apartment lease. Though he’d lived there for years and years and years – he’s 81 years old – he had to leave. When we went to Household Goods, he said, “I feel at peace here.” He picked out some wonderful things, and the volunteer just got him. And on the way home, he said, “They wouldn’t know if I was homeless or not. They just know that I needed… a bed.” “That’s right, Eugene,” I told him. “They’re equal opportunity bed people!” It just stuck with me.
Q: If there’s one thing you’d want people to know about the population you serve, what would it be?
A: Being homeless is a full-time job. It’s no joke. You have to be always thinking. I have homeless folks who have jobs, and they say, “Where am I going to shower? Where am I going to store my stuff? Will my stuff be safe, is it going to be stolen?” It’s a hard job being homeless, and it’s a hard job being newly housed from homelessness. And the strength they show? They have such grace and resilience. I learn from them every day. It’s real strength, you know?
Q: Is there anything you’d like us to know about how we interact with you or your clients?
A: Oh, goodness, you couldn’t be doing better! I really appreciate that it’s not only the big things but the small things that enhance a home. Like lamps, a rug – you have all those things, and people forget about those things until they’re in front of them. And stay patient, and kind, and gracious. I can’t thank you enough! “Go, Household Goods!”
