By Seth Daniel
Volunteers at the newly opened Chelsea Day Resource Center (SELAH) include Pastor Ricardo Valle, Ivone Valle, Esperanza Escobar and Ivellise Gonzalez. Located in the basement of the Light of Christ Church on Broadway, the Center represents a partnership between the City, Valle and numerous other stakeholders.
For many years, individuals experiencing homelessness on Chelsea’s streets had limited shelter during severe cold weather, often huddling under blankets for warmth.
Deaths from exposure to freezing temperatures have occurred, including cases as recent as last year.
The Chelsea Day Resource Center (SELAH) has now opened at 738 Broadway in the basement of the Light of Christ Church to address this crisis and provide daytime services for those living outdoors.
The partnership behind the Day Center includes Pastor Ricardo Valle and his congregation, the City of Chelsea, Pastor Ruben Rodriguez, MGH Chelsea and CAPIC.
The facility serves those who congregate in Bellingham Square or beneath the Mystic/Tobin Bridge, offering meals, clothing, hot showers, bathroom access and emotional support. The City can also activate the center overnight during extreme weather or severe cold events.
Though not entirely novel, this initiative builds on years of advocacy by Valle and others. About three years ago, during an especially harsh cold spell, the City became more receptive to partnering with Valle for an emergency trial program. The initial effort proved successful, leading to ongoing planning for a permanent, official facility.
That vision has now become reality. Valle noted that the center opened on Aug. 28 and has been operating smoothly. SELAH is nearly ready to activate its full commercial kitchen, which will enable them to prepare hot meals on-site daily, Monday through Friday.
“This is an investment with no monetary returns,” Valle stated. “If someone is sick and they die, that’s terrible but we can accept that. If they die because they are out in the cold, we can do better than that. I have this space here and I believe everyone deserves a second chance and maybe this is the place where they can come find a second chance…We talk to them and try to get them to ask for help. Once they ask, we immediately have a team ready to get them the help they need to get out of this lifestyle.”
City Manager Tom Ambrosino explained that the homeless and vagrant population needed a daytime destination. Previously, many spent their days in the Square, which created conflicts with the business district and nearby schools. Yet no alternative existed for them.
“We were really looking to partner to create a place so there’s a place people can go to get a shower and something to eat,” Ambrosino noted. “We hope it can be a helpful resource for our Navigators. There are now options that they didn’t have before. So far it’s doing pretty well.”
The City provided approximately $35,000 in grant funding to construct the shower and bathroom facilities, with additional operating budget support coming from Mass General neighborhood funds.
Bobby Soroka spent years living on the streets and under the Bridge before recently securing housing. He began visiting the Day Center upon its opening and now volunteers his time there.
“I liked what I saw when I came here and they needed help,” Soroka explained. “I was here anyway. Without this, they wouldn’t be able to shower. It’s a nice place to hand and especially with winter coming. Everybody gets along. There are no fights or problems.”
Valle emphasized the critical importance of shower facilities and the ability to maintain hygiene. Many individuals arrive in severely deteriorated conditions, he noted, citing one case involving a man with severe foot rot and mobility issues. Overall, he said, the Center has significantly improved the hygiene standards of Chelsea’s homeless population.
“A shower means a lot to them,” Valle stated. “The first time we opened the center, it took 30 minutes and you could feel the smell. Now you come here and you don’t feel that because they have access to a shower five days a week. We had a man who came in to take a shower and he took his shoes off and his feet had deteriorated. He couldn’t walk and was using a stick to get around. It was bad and we see a lot of people in that condition.”
Despite having secured housing, Soroka remains affected by his past experiences. Cold nights and the smell of winter air trigger difficult memories, causing him to avoid going outside after dark. This connection to his former circumstances helps him maintain empathy for those currently using the Center.
“It meant a lot to see them open this, especially a few years ago when they opened it during the cold,” he said. “I was under the Bridge then. I’m not one to go to a shelter. I’ll sleep outside first. I have a place, but I don’t like to go outside. That night air scares me to death. It makes me think I could be out there again. I hope not.”
Operating Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Day Center faces a critical shortage of volunteers. Valle has called on more Chelsea residents to contribute their time and support to the facility.