Fire At Huntington YMCA Displaces More Than 60

BACK BAY, MA — A fire displaced more than 60 people, after it ripped through the YMCA on Huntington Street early Thursday morning.

Around 12:50 a.m. May 21, firefighters were called to the YMCA building, which is also has rooms for rent and serves as a transitional shelter for families. One resident was taken to the hospital and more than 60 others were displaced, according to fire officials, who estimate damages to be around $100,000. Boston's Neighborhood Services, the Red Cross and others stepped up to help.

Women's Lunch Place, a day shelter and service provider for women experiencing homelessness or poverty was one of those.

Staff at Women's Lunch Place tell Patch they reached out to see what the women who were displaced needed and just hours later were loading freshly made meals, personal protection equipment, snacks, and notes of encouragement into the car to bring to the women.

The YMCA also reached out to Breaktime, a local nonprofit started by two Harvard undergraduates whose mission is to elevate young adults out of homelessness through supported transitional employment.

"We quickly mobilized the Double Impact Initiative to meet the need for meals of those who have been displaced because of this terrible fire," Samantha Goodman of the nonprofit told Patch.

The Breaktime team will be delivering over 140 meals between lunch and dinner Friday and will continue to provide meal support as needed, she said.

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