Where it all started…
Centerboard was founded in 1988 as Serving People in Need (SPIN), with the mission of helping Lynn's homeless population. Just 10 years later, SPIN’s Service Coordination Center was the hub for those living in shelters during the day time.
Over the years, SPIN grew to host the Service Coordination Center, Teen Mom program, HIV community living space, and in 2007, 6 youth programs were introduced serving youth ages 0-18.
In 2011, SPIN became Centerboard, named after the movable keel that allows a sailboat to operate faster and with more maneuverability despite winds and water depth. Connecting to our willingness to provide support in any and all areas.
Centerboard's mission is to revitalize communities through people and places by developing innovative ways to solve problems and act on those ideas to create the largest possible impact.
Today, Centerboard provides assistance to local communities, including our Youth and Young Adult Programs, Housing Services, We Rise, Lynn Family Forward Resource Center, T.R.U.E. Mentor Program, and many more. With the rise of emergency assistance needs in 2020, Centerboard continues to work with many youth and families looking for permanent housing.
Centerboard began and continues to focus heavily on assisting those experiencing housing insecurity within the North Shore. We believe that housing and shelter are basic human rights, and it is our mission, with the help of government partners and contracts, to assist families and youth on their journey toward permanent, stable housing.
Prior to November 2022, Centerboard was running a regular emergency assistance shelter. Families were in scattered sites or congregate shelters, like one in Lynn, MA., with over 34 families under one roof. As the economy worsened and many more families found themselves struggling to afford housing or food, we answered the call of the Commonwealth and launched our first expansion program at Salem State University. From November 2022 to February 2023, we housed over 100 families there.
The state reached out to Centerboard again in March 2023, asking us to expand again. We agreed and then went beyond “just housing” to create a deep level of service in a wraparound approach to support families in numerous ways.
Traditional case management models no longer suffice. Families need comprehensive, trauma-informed, and person-centered care. These families often arrive at Centerboard after exhausting all other options, and many require more intensive support to achieve stability. Training staff to deliver this level of care has been essential.