Equitable Housing for All
At Housing Families, we work with clients to ensure a dignified experience when facing housing insecurity or homelessness. Our unique organization provides emergency family and individual shelter, permanent supportive housing, and housing search and stabilization case management to compassionately create a personalized support plan for homeless assistance.
The Challenge
According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, there are over 19,000 homeless individuals in Massachusetts. Massachusetts’ present homelessness crisis is largely due to the high cost of living, as it is the third least affordable area in the country given the state’s low wages combined with high rents. Though the minimum wage is currently $15 per hour, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) reports that a wage of $46.63 per hour is needed in Massachusetts to afford a two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent. Also, the NLIHC reports a shortage of over 170,000 rental homes that are affordable and available for extremely low-income renters.
1k
individuals experiencing homelessness in MA
1%
are members of families with children
Our Solution
1
units of emergency shelter for families and individuals
1
units of permanent, supportive housing provided to formerly homeless and extremely low-income households
Housing Families operates various homeless assistance programs for families and individuals experiencing homelessness and housing instability, including emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing. Our holistic housing assistance programs also include customized success plans that may include legal assistance, tutoring, counseling and therapy, food pantry access, and more.
Our Services
Housing Families’ family shelter is a referral only program through the state of Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), meaning that families are placed in our shelter by EOHLC.
Housing Families takes pride in ensuring a dignified experience for families in our emergency family homeless shelter. We operate 98 apartments throughout Greater Boston, each with a private bath and kitchen, designed for one family to use at a time. Once in our family shelter program, families receive intensive case management, comprehensive housing assistance, mental health counseling services, and assistance in other areas to overcome barriers to securing permanent housing.
In August of 2023, Governor Healey declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts due to the increased need for Emergency Shelter. Following this action, Housing Families decided to act and opened multiple emergency hotel shelters. Since their inception, over 220 families have moved into the shelters, more than tripling Housing Families shelter capacity. Families in the shelters have full access to other Housing Families’ case management and other wraparound services.
Individual Shelter
Housing Families recognized a need in Greater Boston for additional emergency homeless shelter for individuals, and in 2021 began operating an adult shelter with 22 units in Malden. The individual shelter now has capacity for 40 guests at a time. Individuals who seek shelter also receive intensive case management, comprehensive housing search assistance, mental health counseling services, substance use and recovery support, and assistance in other areas to support economic growth and overcome barriers to securing permanent housing.
Mobile Street Outreach
One of our newest programs, Mobile Street Outreach and Supportive Services responds to the needs of eligible individuals and households who are either experiencing homelessness, at-risk of homelessness, experiencing domestic vulnerabilities, and other populations where supportive services would prevent homelessness. Supportive services include food assistance, case management, and clinical mental health care. This program covers eight cities partnered through the North Suburban Consortium (NSC), which includes Arlington, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Revere, and Winthrop. Housing Families Inc., partners with the Neighborhood Developers to implement this program.
Warming Centers
Housing Families operates warming centers during winter months to help those who are unhoused find safe shelter from the cold of New England winters. In partnership with cities, usually from January to April, Housing Families staffs and runs these centers where individuals can come stay the night indoors and away from the cold. At the warming centers we also provide food and support services, including access to our clinical team and referrals.
For formerly homeless families that have moved from shelter into more stable housing, the Housing Families team continues to provide households with case management support. Our Permanent Supportive Housing program includes 113 apartments for formerly homeless, extremely low-income families. Rent is capped at 30% of the household’s income and residents receive ongoing case management services. More than half of these households are served through our Disabled Family Leasing Program, a unique program designed to support families whose head of household is disabled.
We work closely with clients to assess their housing situation, including needs and challenges, that led them to require housing assistance. Our team works closely with clients to regain housing stability by connecting them to services and resources, helping develop professional and personal skills, finding community support, and assisting with finding stable housing.
Moving into somewhere permanent is a big sigh of relief for us. We have been homeless for just about three years and this has marked our seventh move. I can’t explain how good it feels to call somewhere home.
Ashley
My case worker helped me navigate the state paperwork and housing applications, and we have been living on our own for ten years…I thank God every day that there was an agency like Housing Families to help us in our time of need.