Since 2019, Casa Mariposa has cultivated community for those without. We provide affordable housing and host events to raise awareness of issues and challenges facing immigrant communities.
Our Mission
We provide culturally inclusive, responsive and respectful education and subsidized housing to marginalized immigrants and their families as they navigate adjustment to life in Lynn. We do so through direct services and community engagement.
What We Do:
In July of 2019, Virginia Leigh, a North Shore advocate dedicated to social justice, purchased a large Victorian home to create an affordable communal living space for immigrant families to call home. The intention began as a place to set up affordable housing for immigrant families who otherwise could not afford to live in Lynn due to rapid gentrification and discriminatory landlords & housing practices, as well as unsafe/overcrowded living conditions.
What began as a small venture, quickly grew with support from the surrounding Lynn Community, social workers, and supporters of the mission. Less than 8 months after purchase, the families who call this place home grew to 8 households of varying sizes (ranging from single women to a large family of 7), hailing from 5 different countries (Guatemala, Venezuela, Brazil, Zambia). Over time many more families have been part of our Casa Community adding home countries of the Dominican Republic and El Salvador.
In 2020 the mission and vision were created and the home was named Casa Mariposa (Butterfly House)- which symbolizes the act of migration as well as the human capacity for transformation. In March of 2020, Casa Mariposa became incorporated as a non -profit with a supporting 10-member board of local advocates.
The unique affordable rental model includes the low end of market rate rent. From there, the families commit to pay what they can, and the difference is supported by sponsors who typically commit to monthly donations of $25 - any amount that supports a portion or all of the rent difference for an individual or family as well as assisting with projects and monthly maintenance of the house. Thus Casa Mariposa provides a model for Community supported affordable housing for immigrant families. In this way, families become self-sufficient faster.
Check out our events and projects pages for more current happenings at Casa Mariposa today!
“HELPED are those whose every act is a prayer for peace; on them depends the future of the world.
HELPED are those who love the entire cosmos rather than their own tiny country, city, or farm, for to them will be shown the unbroken web of life and the meaning of infinity.
HELPED are those who love all the colors of all the human beings, as they love all the colors of animals and plants; none of their children, nor any of their ancestors, nor any parts of themselves, shall be hidden from them.”