Our Mission
The mission of Lydia Place is to disrupt the cycle of homelessness and promote sustained independence for current and future generations.
The mission of Lydia Place is to disrupt the cycle of homelessness and promote sustained independence for current and future generations.
The vision of Lydia Place is a compassionate community where everyone has a home and the opportunity to thrive.
We believe strong healthy communities are the foundation to a better world.
In client relations: Every person is a valued member and participant in our community. We collaborate with those we serve, who may have been marginalized or isolated, to build meaningful connections.
In the workplace: We have a workplace that prioritizes the health and wellness of staff and their families. We build into our work intentional space to connect with each other personally and professionally.
In the larger community: Everyone has something to offer to this work. We celebrate the spirit of generosity by actively creating avenues for engagement and creative collaborations.
We believe it is our responsibility to actively challenge systems of oppression. We recognize a majority of those experiencing homelessness have been marginalized.
In client relations: We start from a place of learning; recognizing that the client voice must shape our work.
In the workplace: At all levels of the agency, we dedicate time and space to engaging in meaningful dialogue around our individual and collective contributions to inequity.
We hold each other accountable for our missteps and embrace discomfort in pursuit of social justice. We work to reflect the diversity of the community we serve.
We look for ways to evolve as an agency rather than accepting the status quo.
In the larger community: In our interactions with community members, donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders, we use our voice to address racism and oppression, and leverage positive change.
We believe that the best way to eliminate homelessness is to look beyond short-term solutions and focus on breaking the generational cycle of poverty.
In client relations: We provide services that not only address today’s needs but prepare our clients for long-term success.
In the workplace: We foster an environment of critical thinking in order to implement innovative and sustainable solutions, and adapt our services to meet changing needs.
In the larger community: We advocate for systemic solutions that acknowledge that crisis response must be balanced with preventative strategies.
We value each other as humans first. We know that the best outcomes for our clients and our community are achieved when our team is healthy and thriving.
In order to provide compassionate services with clarity and intention, we commit to self-care and acknowledging times of burn out, and to stepping back as needed.
We invest deeply in our team members by promoting personal and professional growth including cultivating leadership from within, individualizing positions, providing mentorship, and encouraging continuing education.
We are proud to provide living wages, fully employer sponsored healthcare, paid paternal leave, paid sabbatical, four weeks minimum paid time off annually, holiday pay, and an agency sponsored retirement plan.
We are a family-centered workplace and we value the importance of infant/parent bonding. Children are welcomed, encouraged, and loved. Therefore, we support our team members by providing autonomy and flexibility.
We take opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders, funders, and community members regarding the importance of living wages and good benefits for those working in the non-profit sector.
Lydia Place was established in 1989 by a task force of women who saw a need for a safe housing for women experiencing homelessness. The goal of the Transitional Housing Program (now called the Gladstone House) was to assist women in becoming self-sufficient and to offer a safe haven to families experiencing homelessness. With the help of many, the Transitional Housing Program facility was purchased and the first family moved in October 1989.
Today, Lydia Place has grown from an eight-bedroom single-family home to a full-service organization, one that now supports women, men, and families of all sizes and compositions. Today we serve over 150 families at a time, providing in-home parenting support, in-home mental health counseling, intensive case management, community building activities, and connections with a wide array of local partners. We have grown to embody the spirit of a healthy community, where every individual, family and child has the opportunity to thrive.