Town Seeks Legal Action Against Days Inn

The motel on Endicott Street is alleged to be in violation of sanitary codes.

Editor's Note: The number of homeless families living in the motel has been changed to accurately reflect the latest number. The town of Danvers is taking legal action against Days Inn, based on alleged violations of the sanitary code.  Danvers Health Director Peter Mirandi told the Board of Health that the town filed on Thursday morning in housing court. Mirandi said chronic dampness, which propagates mold, was one of the major concerns at the 152 Endicott Street motel.  "[Days Inn] should meet the minimum fitness for human habitation," Mirandi said to Board members.  As of last week, there are currently 58 families, including more than 80 children, living in the motel.  Some of the families, Mirandi said, have been living in the motel …

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Jennifer Johnson

8:27 pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012

I think she's implying that the Town just wants these families out of Danvers. Not only are they paying thousands of dollars to bus and educate them, but they do not receive any tax money from "residents" at the hotels like they do normal transients. Seems plausible when you consider that the families living there must have regular visitation with State social workers and DCF workers and yet the …   more ›

Homeless Families in Danvers Motels Spike To Highest Number Since July '11

Despite a relief program implemented last summer, the number of families living in motels in Danvers has spiked to 149 this week.

The number of homeless families living among four Danvers motels spiked to the highest it has been since July 2011, reaching 149 families this week.  At Tuesday night's selectmen's meeting, Town Manager Wayne Marquis told the Selectmen that despite the Home Base program's efforts, and a slight decrease in September 2011, the number of families began growing again in November, and have continued to rise since.  The Home Base program, created by North Shore Community Action Program (NASCAP) in conjunction with the Lynn Housing Authority, rolled out in July 2011, with the plan to empty out the Danvers motels.  "Our ultimate goal this year is to empty the motels in Danvers," Beth Hogan, executive director of the North Shore Community Action …

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Rays of Hope Concert to Benefit Danvers' Homeless Children

Live rock and roll, raffles, and a cash bar will benefit the town's Project Sunshine summer program for homeless children.

It's not too late to get your tickets to the Rays of Hope for Project Sunshine benefit night, on Thursday May 31 at the Village Green.  "The funds we raise will enable the Recreation Department to make it possible for homeless children living in Danvers motels to take part in summer recreation programs," event organizer Sally Kearns said.  Alongside Kearns, the night was organized with, who she described as "the amazing," Andrea Enos, Brittany Reisly at Daily Harvest, Sue DeBenedictis, and Friends of Danvers Recreation Inc. The evening will feature live rock and roll performed by the Satch Kerans band, cash bar, and raffles.  Raffle donations include: Last year, the Project Sunshine program was spearheaded by Danvers Recreation and town …

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Whiz Kids

DHS Students Address Homeless Issue In Danvers

Student officers of the youth arm of the Danvers Rotary hope to make an impact by donating diapers to the People To People Food Pantry.

After concerns were brought to student attention about Danvers having the largest population of homeless women and children in the state, officers of the Danvers High School volunteer organization, Interact, have spearheaded a project to help their community.  President Alexis Yioulos, Vice President Randy Acheson, and Laila Najia and Diana Waring, who are the and future president and vice president, have started a diaper drive, after learning that the state-funded WIC program does not cover diapers in sizes 3-5, and the women and children are in dire need. “We thought it was really important to help out in any way we could,” Yioulos explained. “One of the foremost things they need are diapers so we bought some and gave them to the food …

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Project Sunshine Receives Statewide Recognition

Danvers was recognized by the Massachusetts Municipal Association for the Project Sunshine program at their annual awards ceremony on Jan. 21.

The town of Danvers was an honored recipient of the Kenneth E. Pickard Municipal Innovation Award at the 33rd annual Massachusetts Municipal Association Awards ceremony held on Jan. 21 in Boston, on behalf of their innovation and creativity with the Project Sunshine Program. Project Sunshine, a six-week summer program, was created in June to provide for the roughly 40 homeless school-aged children living in motels during the summer, who, without the program, wouldn't have had a place to play other than the motel parking lots. The program, which offered games, sports, arts and crafts, and field trips had a slated budget of about $25,000, but was funded entirely through various town and communities efforts, as well as local business and …

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State Rep. Urges Selectmen To Seek Compensation for Homeless Costs

State Rep. Ted Speliotis updated the Danvers Board of Selectmen on the motel homeless issue at its Jan. 2 meeting.

State Rep. Ted Speliotis backed the Board of Selectmen's request to seek immediate reimbursement for homeless transportation costs at the Jan. 3 Board of Selectmen meeting. Last year, Speliotis wrote to Auditor Suzanne Bump regarding the unfunded mandate that the town shoulders for homeless children. Danvers paid $145,140 during the 2009-2010 school year in transportation requirement costs. Speliotis said Bump went beyond his recommendation by not only agreeing that transportation costs for students living in Danvers and being transported out would be considered a local mandate, but also that Danvers would get a reimbursement for educational costs -- whether students were coming to Danvers or staying in their previous public schools -- an …

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State Auditor Calls for Funding for Homeless Children

The decision was rendered by State Auditor Suzanne Bump in a letter dated October 27, 2011 to Representative Ted Speliotis.

Due to a reporting error, earlier versions of this article stated Danvers was told to pick up the tab for education and transportation for their homeless children. State Auditor Suzanne Bump has clarified earlier reporting and has said this is not the case.   State Auditor Suzanne Bump is calling for legislation to fund a currently unfunded mandate which would provide assistance to the town in paying for the transportation and/or schooling of some 80 homeless children currently residing in up to four of the budget motels located in the town as required by Local Mandate Law. The decision was rendered by State Auditor Suzanne Bump in a letter dated October 27, 2011 to Representative Ted Speliotis (D-Danvers). There may be some unspent monies…

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Berry Launches Effort to Support Local Pantries Year Round

A "Berry Special Event" Thursday night at the Peabody Marriott to raise seed money for a new initiative to keep local food pantries sustained all year long.

For the past three decades, Peabody native and state Sen. Fred Berry has championed many causes and engaged in countless charitable efforts, more recently narrowing his focus as the economy has tanked to support local food pantries facing the greater challenge of serving more people with fewer resources. “As a lifelong resident of Peabody, and the state senator for this region I cannot accept that some of our neighbors; including veterans, children and seniors don’t know where there next meal will come from,” Berry says. For the past two years, he has called on his constituents in Peabody, Salem, Beverly, Danvers and Topsfield to donate thousands of packaged and canned goods to local pantries during an annual one-day food drive. But this …

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need To Know Today, Sept. 21

Your daily guide to the happenings and events in Danvers.

Today is Wednesday, September 21. Here are five things you need to know today in Danvers: 1. Demystifying the College Application Process: Finding the Right "Fit" for Your Child is a free seminar being hosted tonight at the Peabody Institute Library. The event is purposed for both students and their parents, and begins at 7 p.m. 2. Did you know? You can purchase tickets for the Topsfield Fair at these Danvers locations on a discounted price: Cherry Farm Creamery, Gibney Gardens, and the Butchery. 3.  A fundraiser to replenish supplies that were depleted this summer at the Danvers People to People Food Pantry will take place tonight at 6 p.m. at Supino's restaurant. Learn more here. 4. LeTip of the North Shore is hosting a Business Mixer …

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Number of Homeless Families In Danvers Motels Slightly Decreases

Since August there has been a steady, slight decrease in homeless families living in Danvers motels.

Danvers has seen a "modest decrease" in the number of homeless families living among the four state-contracted motels in towns. As of September 6 there were 132 homeless families spread between the Days Inn, Extended Stay Inn, Motel 6, and the Knights Inn. On August 2, the homeless numbers had spiked to 147 families. Since that time there has been a decrease by about two or three families each week. The implementation of the new "Home Base" program created by North Shore Community Action Program (NASCAP) in conjunction with the Lynn Housing Authority has been one reason for the decrease, said Town Manager Wayne Marquis."We hope to see that trend continue," he said. When "Home Base" presented its plan at the special Board of Selectmen …

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