Empowering Healthy Lives
At Housing Families, we believe in the importance of physical and mental health as many children and adults experience trauma and health complications as a result of homelessness and poverty. In addition to our CareCollective program’s clinical mental health services, we provide individualized support for families and individuals to help them overcome challenges with food security and access to healthcare.
The Challenge
The toxic stress of housing insecurity impacts both the mental and physical health of those experiencing it, leading to health complications such as asthma, cardiovascular events, injury, infections disease, and a higher incidence of diabetes. Homeless populations are also more likely to experience food insecurity and deferred healthcare along with housing insecurity. Like housing,
1x
Children experiencing homelessness are 4x more likely to become sick than their housed peers
1%
Of Massachusetts households report experiencing food insecurity
Our Solution
1
Bags of groceries distributed to Housing Families clients annually
1
Housing Families households served with food assistance and supplemental personal care items
Housing is a social determinant of health, as is food security. In addition to housing supports, we address food security through our Community Resource Center and by providing meals to those in our shelters and through mobile street outreach. We also help our clients to access healthcare and bring health resources to them whenever possible.
Our Services
Our Community Resource Center operates as a food and resource pantry for the families and individuals we serve, providing additional essentials like personal care items, cleaning supplies, and baby formula. It is located in Malden and serves the families and individuals in Housing Families’ programs. The Community Resource Center operates at a level greater than traditional food pantry, with offerings that are culturally relevant for our clients, and it is set up for clients to come select the food and personal care items that they want and will use, rather than a “get what you get” food pantry program.
Childcare items such as diapers and formulas are costly and therefore often difficult for our clients to afford. Also, children grow out of clothes and need new school supplies at least once a year. Each family also requires personal care items such as shampoo, soap, dental care items, and cleaning supplies, but these items further cost burden low-income households. Housing Families provides financial assistance in the form of free childcare and personal care items through our internal resources and partner organization referrals.
