Salem City Council Approves Lifebridge Redevelopment Project to Address Homelessness

PRESS RELEASE Lifebridge Northshore

SALEM – Salem City Council has passed a 40R zoning overlay to redevelop the Lifebridge North Shore Campus on Margin Street. The redevelopment proposed by Lifebridge and Harborlight Homes will provide 70 permanent beds and 53 studio apartments to better serve the emerging needs of people experiencing homelessness in Salem.  

As the housing crisis, poverty, and job loss lead to a growing number of people facing homelessness, municipalities and organizations like Lifebridge seek to collaborate on solutions. A 40R zoning overlay uniquely ensures Lifebridge and Harborlight Homes will partner with Salem’s Planning Department moving forward. This overlay will make the City of Salem eligible for substantial unrestricted funding now, with additional funding in a second phase when the building is permitted. 

“By choosing to partner with the city, we can continue to nurture our relationship with our housed and unhoused neighbors,” said Jason Etheridge, Lifebridge president. “While we have stewarded this property for decades, we now have the opportunity to provide more dignified and hygienic living spaces and supportive services to vulnerable people. These steps are essential to maintaining a strong community in Salem and restoring hope in dire times.”  

The approved plan from Harborlight Homes has come just in time as the Lifebridge emergency transition site—created in response to a homeless encampment—is set to close at the end of the year, dependent on funding. The redevelopment project pivots away from current crowded conditions and toward individual spaces with privacy walls and studio apartment units. A full 70% of these units will prioritize people living in Salem, also known as “local preference,” to directly house the local homeless population.  

“We are grateful for the support of the City of Salem advancing this project to its next phase,” states Andrew DeFranza, executive director of Harborlight Homes, “Community input and collaboration have been key in reaching this design and plan. We will continue to ensure this effort meets the needs of those who will be served and gives the City of Salem a dignified and well-functioning project. As we proceed, we will do our best to be respectful of neighbors and surrounding area.” 

The property will also include more workspace for on-site staff, who provide supportive services like obtaining IDs, accessing social security and health benefits, and connecting with additional resources to gain footing and independence. These services are available to Lifebridge residents and those in the wider community.  

This entire project has come together to meet people’s most immediate needs of food and shelter in a more comprehensive way, but it also provides a critical step to independent living. “You have a different set of responsibilities when you don’t have a home than when you do have a home,” said Christopher Sala, a Lifebridge Board Member and longtime Salem resident. “They’re so different that you need a bridge to get from one side to the other, and that’s what we at Lifebridge are. It is fundamentally true that when people transition from not having a home to having a home, their production in our society is exponentially better. We all gain in our society if we get to that point. We all lose in our society if people are left on the streets without support or dignity.” 

A full project outline with a timeline of design changes can be found harborlighthomes.org/lifebridge-supportive. 

About Lifebridge North Shore  

Lifebridge North Shore is a non-profit that supports homeless and vulnerable individuals on their path to recovery, stability, and hope. Lifebridge believes in the fundamental worth and dignity of every human being and is dedicated to providing access to essential resources. By offering shelter, housing, meals, and other supportive services, Lifebridge promotes safety and physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health in the community. 

About Harborlight Homes  

Harborlight Homes is a non-profit, Massachusetts-certified Community Development Corporation, which develops, manages and advocates for quality, service-enriched housing that is affordable and inclusive.  Currently providing affordable homes in 12 communities across Boston’s North Shore, Harborlight serves low and fixed-income elders, struggling families, essential workers, those who are disabled, and families and individuals experiencing homelessness. The mission of Harborlight Homes is to collaborate with communities to cultivate just, equitable and sustainable housing opportunities, vital to the health and strength of Boston’s North Shore.

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