The human service workforce shortage continues at a crisis level in Massachusetts. This has led to housing consolidation by some provider organizations due to a lack of trained staff to fill 24/7 services. Cooperative for Human Services (CHS) was asked by the Department of Developmental Services to receive three individuals supported by another local human services provider into CHS care and the organization responded to meet their residential placement needs.
CHS identified a house in a quiet Tewksbury neighborhood that had already been renovated and expanded into a two-family home with an in-law addition and partnered with a long-time CHS investor who purchased the property and provided the company with a multi-year lease opportunity. The solar-powered house was modified to return it back to a single family dwelling. CHS converted it into five bedrooms and added a large fenced yard for outdoor recreational activities and opened Kearsage in May 2023 to serve three young men and added a fourth housemate who joined them in June.
This is the organizations second residential program in the DDS Lowell Area Office catchment. CHS also operates a home located in Tewksbury that supports individuals with acquired brain injuries.