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Homeless Shelters
Adult/Individual Shelters
Individuals and couples without children must rely on the individual shelter system that provides beds on a first come, first served basis.
Rhode Island - Centralized Shelter Placement: Coordinated Entry System
- Day Shelter to Target problems on "Methadone Mile" - MGH Community News, June 2017
- Program Highlight: Rosie's Place - MGH Community News, May 2016
- More than just a shelter, Rosie's Place offers a variety of services for women in need including information and referral and support, showers, laundry, lockers, meals,ESOL classes, computer and citizenship classes and some limited tutoring, such as for those in the final stages of preparing for the HiSET exam (High School Equivalency Testing program – formerly the GED) or citizenship test. They also have some limited funds for emergency cash assistance such as for homelessness prevention.
- Proposed HUD Rule Would Strip Transgender Protections at Homeless Shelters, MGH Community News, May 2019
Adult Medical Shelters
- Medical Respite: Barbara McInnis House
- Main number: 857-654-1700; Admissions phone number: 857-654-1760; for weekend admissions use the administration number: 857-654-1840
- Tour Notes 7/12- Includes information on staffing, services, insurance coverage and daily life. - MGH Community News, August 2012
- Kirkpatrick House - McInnis Step-Down - MGH Community News, May 2016
- Opened June 2016; 20 bed medical respite shelter; step-down unit from the Barbara McInnis house. Closed referral process- admission from McInnis House.
- Storing Diabetes Supplies- The Pine Street Inn, South Hampton Street (Men), and Woods Mullen (Women), all have the ability to accommodate guests with diabetes. All three shelters have clinics and can help individuals store their medications.(1/23)
- Shelter Special Medical Needs Beds - a few Boston area shelters have specialty beds for individuals with medical needs. Most shelters require guests to leave during the day. These specialty beds allow shelter guests with medical needs, but who do not qualify for McInnis House's level of care, to remain in the shelter during daytime hours with medical monitoring by the Barbara McInnis clinic team. Referrals go through McInnis House- Main number: 857-654-1700; Admissions phone number: 857-654-1760; for weekend admissions use the administration number: 857-654-1840
- Bridgewell Recuperative Care Center - homeless respite in Lynn. Eligibility: patients must be 18 or over, lack suitable housing, need an environment in which to prepare or recover (and sick enough to require more than a simple shelter can provide), and either have a Lynn Community Health Center PCP or live in the Lynn area (shelter, car, street). More information: MGH Community News, August 2019
- Tips/Additional Info
- CPAP- most individual shelters have limited beds in proximity to an electrical outlet; they cannot guarantee access and it usually takes awhile to become established in a shelter before getting an outlet-accessible bed. (Per Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program, 6/19)
Young Adults - please see STAFF reference guide (8/22) and Patient Handout- Local Individual Shelters that Accept Self-Referral for latest updates
- Y2Y Harvard Square- Young Adult Homeless Shelter. Offers a unique youth-to-youth model to transition young adults out of homelessness. In addition to shelter they provide referrals to partner service providers and volunteers and experts offer programming, including workshops in legal aid, career readiness, and creative expression. Y2Y offers two kinds of stays, 30-night stays and 1-night stays, both available by lottery.
Open October 15 to April 15
Eligibility: anyone between the ages of 18 and 24, or 25 as long as they were 24 on November 1.
Process: admission process instructions
Case managers, social workers, and other individuals may enter the lottery on behalf of someone else. If you are entering the lottery on behalf of someone else, make sure that person is aware you are doing so, and ready to accept a bed immediately. Make sure no one else is entering the lottery on behalf of that person, since double entries may lead to disqualification.
Questions? email info@y2ynetwork.org
More information- See the website: http://y2yharvardsquare.org/
- Liberty Village - 69 Alleghany St in Roxbury Crossing. 16 bed emergency shelter for young adults ages 18-25 who are struggling with homelessness. The program is designed to provide case management and supportive services in a collaborative, strengths-based environment with a focus on permanency. Accepting new clients Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm. Referrals: for the program can be made by either sending an email to libertyvillage@thehome.org or or by calling 857-308-3255.
- BAGLY Host Home Program (Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth)
- Provides safe temporary housing to LGBTQ+ youth/young adults (ages 18-24) experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Host homes are offered for up to 6 months. More information.
- Warming Shelter for Young Adults- Bridge Over Troubled Waters - 47 West Street, Boston. Open in Winter.
Available for clients 18 – 24 years of age. Requires a valid I.D. for admittance. Hours: 10:00PM - 1:00 AM each night. After 1AM a guest may be accepted if accompanied by a police officer or telephone referral from another program asking for assistance. Call 617-423-9575 ext. 234 or 233 to refer. Guests may remain in the space till approx. 8AM to rest quietly on couch or chairs; there will be no TV, computers, etc. available for use overnight. There is capacity for about 12 guests.
Questions? Call Stephen Keizer at: 617-423-9575 ext. 204 during the day.
- Family Shelters/Emergency Assistance (EA)
EA shelter at capacity - new waitlists
In October 2023 Gov. Healy placed a new cap on EA shelter. That cap was reached in early November 2023. Families are now being waitlisted. There is very limited over-flow shelter at this writing (12/4/23); families are mainly on their own until space is available.
Guidance from the state (via MHA) - Frequently Asked Questions about Families and Emergency Assistance Shelter, rev 11/24/23
Waitlist Priorities: Waitlist priority and background - advocacy opportunity: help ensure families are assigned the appropriate waitlist priority - obtain medical letter to submit, with application if possible (or afterwards if not.)
New EA "Safety-Net" (overflow) shelter rules - as of 5/1/24 familes staying in a safety-net/overflow shelter while awaiting regular family shelter will have to document "engagement in case management and rehousing efforts" monthly or risk losing their safety-net shelter space. (Note this does NOT apply to safety-net shelter run by United Way.) Learn more.
Handouts:
Emergency Assistance (EA) is the state's emergency shelter program for low-income families (pregnant women or families with children under age 21). Housing search advocacy is provided in group shelter settings.
See below for basic information.
More detail and advocacy tips
To Apply
The EA program is administered by the the MA Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC). (Known prior to 5/30/23 as the Dept. of Housing & Community Development [DHCD]). Families can apply either:
- By phone: 866-584-0653, Mon to Fri 8-4
- Call as early in the day as possible
- Should I apply by phone? Easiest if already receiving TAFDC, EAEDC or SNAP and therefore are in the Dept. of Transitional Assistance (DTA) computer system called BEACON. EOHLC workers should have read-only access to BEACON where they can see many of the needed verifications. If you are not already receiving DTA benefits you will need to provide certain documents, so to apply by phone you need access to a fax machine or a scanner and e-mail.
- If on repeated attempts you are are unable to get through, MA Coalition for the Homeless advises that advocates may escalate the issue by contacting EOHLC’s Director of Field Operations Alvina Brevard or Attorney Adrian Walleigh. Please not this contact information is for advocates’ use only; please do not share these resources with patients/families directly. (6/20)
- In Person - at select offices. Please see website for offices and hours: mass.gov/how-to/find-emergency-family-shelter
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Families should call or appear as early in the day as possible (as the process can easily take all day, or even several days), but no later than 4 pm.
See more Practical Applying Tips.
Language Access policy- as a result of a legal settlement agreement (in August 2017), EOHLC (DHCD at that time) has adopted a language access policy.
- Limited English Proficient (LEP) families are entitled to receive language access services at all EOHLC offices, hearings division, and shelters.
- Each family will be asked at intake which language they prefer to communicate in.
- Each family will be given a one page sheet with language access information.
- Oral interpretation will be available when EA communications and documents are not translated into a family’s language, including at shelters.
- EOHLC has appointed a Language Access Coordinator to oversee EA language access services and act as a point person for questions and concerns related to language access services. Previously, there was no designated staff member to oversee language access issues. The current coordinator is Brenda O’Donnell, Brenda.ODonnell@state.ma.us or 617-573-1381.
- More information: Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Language Access Settlement, MGH Community News, October 2017
If ineligible for EA or outside of business hours: consider Family Shelter Community Rooms- there are a limited number of "Community Rooms" available across the state. There is a high demand for these rooms- call to check availability.
Eligibility Flowchart
Financial Eligibility
Income - countable income limit of 115% FPL
- TAFDC, EAEDC, SSI, veteran's benefits and child support count as income for determining EA eligibility.
- SNAP benefits do not count as income
- See Income Advocacy Tips for more information
Assets- the countable assets limit for EA is $5,000. (The value of one non-recreational vehicle is not counted.) More on countable and non-countable assets on our details page.
Categorical Eligibility - in addition to income eligibility, must meet ALL of the criteria below:
Other EA Program Information
- See our EA Detailed Information & Advocacy Page or specific sections:
Types of Shelter, Shelter offers - rights and responsibilities, housing search services, and rights and responsibilities (including compliance and avoiding termination and the resulting 12 month bar).
- EA Advocacy Guide - from masslegalservices.org
- Emergency Assistance Regulations, Statutes and Notices
- Uniform Shelter Program Rules, Guidelines and Forms
- Types of Family Shelter (describes types, services available in each and statistics) - 11/09
- EA Family Shelter Brochure (note: see above for changes)- MA Coalition for the Homeless, last updated November 2009
- Proposed Settlement Could Bring Big Changes to Mass. Family Shelter System, MGH Community News, March 2023
- EA Shelter Interruption Form
--A family can only use EA shelter one time within 12 months. Once a sheltered family leaves shelter, they are ineligible for shelter for the next twelve months. Advocates, such as Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, are advising all families to submit a shelter interruption statement upon leaving shelter, in case the new situation becomes untenable within this 12 month period. The shelter interruption statement documents a request, and then DTA approval, for a temporary move.
- EOHLC Constituent Services (for issues in shelter): 617-573-1377
- Language Access
EA In the News
- Proposed Settlement Could Bring Big Changes to Mass. Family Shelter System, MGH Community News, March 2023
- SJC Upholds Baker Administration Policy Barring EA Use of Hotels to Accommodate Disability, MGH Community News, October 2018
- Does Ending Motel Use for Emergency Shelter Go Too Far?, MGH Community News, May 2018
- Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Language Access Settlement, MGH Community News, October 2017
- Homeless Families Turn to Emergency Rooms for Shelter, MGH Community News, February 2017
- Baker Administration Accused of Denying Shelter to Homeless Mothers, MGH Community News, December 2016
- Number of Homeless Families in State-Funded Motels Drops, MGH Community News, May 2016
- Emergency Assistance (Family Shelter) New Eligibility Categories, MGH Community News, September, 2012.
- Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter Restrictions- Phase 1 Has Started, MGH Community News, August, 2012.
- Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter Restrictions, MGH Community News, July 2012.
- See Homelessness Prevention for updates on cuts to longer-term transitional housing update and effect on families in EA Shelter and "DHCD Short-Term Subsidies in Light of Toolbox Long-Term Cuts", MGH Community News, March 2010.
- New EA and Re-Housing Regulations- MGH Community News, April 2009
- EA Supplemental Funding - MGH Community News, December 2009
- Diversion Program Enrollment Suspended - MGH Community News, November 2010.
- Family Shelters Full- Record Number in Motels - MGH Community News, December 2009
Family Welcome Centers
UPDATE/CORRECTION - as of November 1, 2023 the Quincy Family Welcome Center will accept EA/Family shelter referrals, but only Monday- Friday and families must arrive by 4; referral required. More info below. The Allston/Brazilian Worker Center no longer places families in shelter.
To apply for EA: refer to the Quincy Family Welcome Center (more below) or call 866-584-0653 or go to one of the EOHLC (formerly DHCD) sites (scroll down to "In Person") that accept referrals (please note some have limited days/hours of operation).
The Family welcome centers now will assist with benefits enrollment, basic needs screening, connection and coordination of donations and volunteers, resiliency and safety planning conversations, resource packages, connection to other resources throughout the state, assistance for families in collecting EA documentation, coordination of resource vans or fairs, and other assistance.
Quincy Family Welcome Center
56 Wendell Ave., Quincy, MA (on the campus of Eastern Nazarene College)
Hours: Monday-Friday: 8am-7pm Sat-Sun: 9am-2pm
Family shelter EA/Family Shelter coordinators only onsite Monday- Friday until 5 pm. Families must arrive by 4.
Referral Required
To refer: email preferred: fwc@baystatecs.org (or call the FWC desk at 857-387-3066.)
Brazilian Worker Center
14 Harvard Ave, Allston.
Hours: 12:00PM-8:00PM 7 days a week
To refer: Call 617-817-5028- Text messages are preferred and will help prioritize your call if in. the text you state you are a Social Worker from MGH and request a call back. Currently does NOT accept/process EA family shelter referrals
email: emergency@braziliancenter.org
https://braziliancenter.org/family-welcome-center/
Non-EA Family Shelter
- Family Shelter Community Rooms- If the family is ineligible for EA shelter or can't access EA because it is outside of DTA business hours, there are a limited number of "Community Rooms" available across the state. There is a high demand for these rooms- call to check availability.
- FamilyAid Boston - operates their own family shelter. Families must be homeless, from Boston, have children under the age of 18 and be over-income or otherwise ineligible for EA (Emergency Assistance family shelter program).
Families must be screened for eligibility. Contact:
- the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities - EOHLC (Formerly the Department of Housing and Community Development or DHCD) at (617) 573-1100.
- Those in the City of Boston can also call the Mayor’s Hotline for assistance. Dial 311 to be connected (or 617-635-4500 if you can’t dial 311).
The program typically runs a waitlist.
Of note, their advocates are clinical social workers who assist not only with housing, but with employment and mental health concerns. May be helpful to prepare patients that they will be asking about more than just housing issues.
FamilyAid Boston also offers additional services, including employment services for their clients.
More on their website: familyaidboston.org.
HomeBASE
Families eligible for Emergency Assistance (EA- family shelter) should be assessed for HomeBASE Household assistance of up to $10,000/per year (in 2020) to help the family stay in place or relocate. Funds can be used flexibly to cover such needs as rental arrearage payments, security deposits, payments to host families, furniture, and medical bill assistance. Combined RAFT and HomeBASE assistance cannot exceed $10,000/year (in 2020).
Families who are eligible for HomeBASE and are in need of immediate shelter, as determined by EOHLC, may be placed in temporary accommodations while waiting to use the other HomeBASE benefits.
To Apply: Must be EA eligible (except for homeless) and apply for EA.
COVID Specific Content
EA and HomeBASE applications are currently via phone only. Call 866-584-0653, Mon to Fri 8-4
End of COVID-specific content
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Go to one of the 9 DTA Offices that have a DHCD worker onsite, ask for shelter worker/DHCD worker.
Office hours are from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Boston – 1010 Massachusetts Avenue - New Market Square
- Brockton – 60 Main Street
- Chelsea – 80 Everett Avenue, 3rd Floor
- Hyannis – 181 North Street
- Lawrence – 280 Merrimack Street
- Lowell – 131 Davidson Street
- no longer accepting in-person applications
- New Bedford – 160 West Rodney French Boulevard
- Salem – 45 Congress Street, Suite 1176
- Springfield – 310 State Street
- Worcester – 13 Sudbury Street
HomeBase- on Mass.gov
HomeBASE brochure - 2011
When HomeBase recipients are subject to 12 month bar on receiving EA benefits (Housing Stabilization Notice 2012-03, DHCD, April 20, 2012)
More information:
NOTE: HomeBASE initially had two programs- Housing Assistance and Rental Assistance that you will see in the following original articles. The Rental Assistance program was discontinued before the end of the first year.
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Adolescent Shelters
Homeless adolescents (without children), including runaways, street youth, and homeless youth, should go to the nearest adolescent shelter or drop in center. These shelters generally serve youths 12 to 17 years old, although age range varies. See the Women of Means shelter directory for listings.
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