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Homeless Assistance

Massachusetts Homeless Youth Handbook

Visit the online Massachusetts Homeless Youth Handbook for resources and assistance regarding youth homelessness. 

2022 EEqual Scholarship Award Program is Now Accepting Applications 

EEqual is an entirely youth-run non-profit organization designed to highlight the incredible potential of young people in the United States struggling with homelessness, housing instability, or extreme poverty. This scholarship covers eligible educational expenses, up to $8,000. This can be used for any type of higher education, including but not limited to community college classes, trade school/trade certifications, bachelor’s degrees, and so on. Students are eligible to apply if they are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity (as defined under the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program (MV) students in extreme poverty; or students whose family is currently going through a transition) to attain post-secondary education. Details on eligibility can be found at https://eequal.org/scholarships/

Youth Programs

Shelters

  • Bridge House 24 Baker Street, Lynn, MA 01902, 781-593-3898, capacity: 11 families.
    Services: Advocacy; counseling by referral; medical care; day programs; transportation.
    Restrictions: Participation in chores is required. Curfew: Weekdays: 10pm; Weekend: 12 am.
    Admissions Process: Must have a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development and be eligible for an Emergency Assistance bed.
  • Cambridge YWCA, 7 Temple, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617-491-6050, Capacity: 103 single rooms for transitional housing program; 10 families of women and children for family shelter program. Languages: Spanish; Haitian; Bengali.
    Services: Advocacy; referral; some clothing; counseling.
    Restrictions: Women only, boys up to the age of 12 allowed.
    Admissions Process: Must be eligible for Emergency Assistance.
  • Casa Nueva Vida, 53 Glen Road, PO Box 2115, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, 617-524-6332, Capacity: 17 families.
    Services: Advocacy; counseling; some clothing; education & English classes. Language: Spanish
    Restrictions: Curfew: Sun- Thurs. 9pm; Fri-Sat 10pm.
    Referral: Must have a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development and be eligible for Emergency Assistance.
  • Centerboard, 16 City Hall Square, Lynn, MA 01905, 781-598-9417, Capacity: 77 beds for families among the scattered services.
    • Services: Advocacy; counseling by referral; food by referral; clothing if available; not handicapped accessible but will be soon; transportation for housing appointments and emergencies only.
      Language: Spanish.
      Restrictions: Sobriety; financial stability.
      Admissions Process: Must be eligible for Emergency Assistance.
  • Children's Services of Roxbury, 504 Dudley St, Roxbury, MA 02119, 617-989-1093, Capacity: 105 beds (among families) in the Scattered Sites and 21 beds (among families) in the congregate location. Languages: Spanish; Haitian Creole.
    • Services: Advocacy; case management; housing search; education programs.
      Restrictions: No history of violent behavior; no head of household over the age of 21.
      Admissions process: Must have a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development and be eligible for Emergency Assistance.
  • Crittenton Women’s Union, 10 Perthshire Road, Brighton, MA 02135, 617-782-7600
    Total Capacity: 58 beds (among families) in the congregate shelter; 59 beds (among families) in the community based shelter. Languages: Spanish; Haitian Creole.
    Services: Advocacy; counseling; 3 meals/day; clothing if available; handicap accessibility; van transportation (to jobs).
    Restrictions: Curfews vary depending on location.
    Admissions Process: Must have a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development or the Department of Transitional Assistance and be eligible for Emergency Assistance.
  • Crossroads Family Shelter, 56 Havre Street, East Boston, MA 02128, 617-567-5926, Capacity: 15 beds for families.
    Services: Case management; housing search; meals; clothing; weekly visiting nurse; play space; workshops. Languages: Spanish.
    Restrictions: No drug or alcoholic use.
    Curfew: Sun-Thurs 9 pm; Fri-Sat 11:30 pm.
    Admissions Process: Must have a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development.
  • Cross Street Family Shelter, 59 Cross Street, P.O. Box 440436, Somerville, MA 02144, 617-776-6661, Capacity: 5 families.
    Services: Advocacy; 3 communal meals (families cook their own meals); clothing if available; access to medical care at a nearby clinic. Languages: Spanish; Creole.
    Curfew: Sun- Thurs 9 pm; Fri-Sat 10 pm.
    Admissions Process:: Must have a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development and be eligible for Emergency Assistance.
  • Families in Transition, 316 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, 617-927-8290, Capacity: 22 beds among families.
    Services: Advocacy; handicap accessibility; medical care through Health Care for the Homeless; public transportation.
    Curfew: Sun-Thurs 9 pm; Fri-Sat 11 pm.
    Admissions Process: Must have a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development and be eligible for Emergency Assistance.
  • Hildebrand Family Self-Help Center, Inc. , 614 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139, 617-491-5752 Languages: Spanish; French; Haitian Creole; Cape Verdean Creole.
    Total capacity: 113 families in Congregate and Scattered Sites shelter units in Boston and Cambridge
    Services: Information and Referral, Case Management, Housing Search and Stabilization; Life Skills workshops and Children’s Programs depending on availability of resources.
    Restrictions: Families with children only.
    Admission: Must be eligible for Emergency Assistance and must be referred by the Department of Housing and Community Development.
  • Housing Families, 254 Broadway, Malden, MA 02148, 781-324-1303 (site), 350 Cross St., Malden, MA 02148, 781 322-9119 (main), Capacity: 54 beds among families.
    Services: Advocacy; referral for counseling; cook own food; clothing; access to medical care; workshops & support groups; transportation to housing appointments only.
    Languages: Spanish; Creole; Portuguese.
    Restrictions: Sobriety; no active substance abuse.
    Admissions Process: Must have a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development and be eligible for Emergency Assistance.
  • Margaret's House, 90 Cushing Ave., Dorchester, MA 02125, 617-436-3944 (hotline), 617-436-8600 (intake center), Capacity: 32 beds among women and children.
    Services: Advocacy; counseling; referral; clothing; prenatal care; onsite nurse.
    Restrictions: Women & children only; must be pregnant or parenting; boys up to the age of 12.
    Admissions Process: Must be eligible for Emergency Assistance.
  • Mary's House / Bristol Lodge Family Shelter, 62 Church Street, Waltham, MA 02154, 781-647-9957, Capacity: 8 families. Languages: French.
    Services: Advocacy; referral; food; clothing; handicap accessibility; medical care by referral; day program; open 24 hours; transportation access; cook own meals.
    Restrictions: Sobriety.
    Curfew: Sun-Thurs. 9pm; Fri-Sat 11pm.
    Admissions Process: Must have a referral from the Department of Transitional Assistance and be eligible for Emergency Assistance.
  • Nazareth House, 91 Regent Street, Roxbury, MA 02119, 617-541-0100, Community Rooms: 3, Capacity: 7 DTA families (10 total including community rooms).
    Services: Advocacy; counseling; transportation.
    Restrictions: At least one family member must be HIV positive; 2-year limit.
    Admissions Process: There is a waiting list specific to the community room. Must have a referral from the Department of Transitional Assistance and be eligible for Emergency Assistance.
  • Project Hope, 550 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA 02119, 617-442-1880, Total Capacity: 8 families; generally only accept women and children.
    Services: Counseling; cook own meals; referrals; clothing if available; Spanish; handicap accessible; visiting nurse; day program, job training, social supports, and workshops.
    Restrictions: Sobriety; no history of drug addiction or domestic violence; generally no males over 14 years old, but male children decided on case by case basis.
    Admissions Process: Must have a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development for Emergency Assistance beds.
    Website: https://www.prohope.org/
  • Queen of Peace, 401 Quincy Street, Boston, MA 02125, 617-288-4182, Community Rooms: 11, Capacity: 11 beds among families of women and children.
    Services: Dinner & breakfast; clothing if available.
    Restrictions: Only women and children, no males over the age of 3; must not be heavily reliant on medications, drugs, or alcohol; must be in at 4 pm & out by 9 am.
    Admissions Process: Must have a referral from a social service agency.
    Website: https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/cgi-bin/id/shelter.cgi?shelter=8566
  • Re-Vision House, 38 Fabyan Street, Dorchester, MA 02124, 617-825-8642, Capacity: 22 beds among women and children. Languages: French Creole.
    Services: Advocacy; counseling; community kitchen & pantry; medical care through Health Care for Homeless; transportation; storage facilities, stabilization services, day care.
    Restrictions: Sobriety (random drug testing); women & children only.
    Admissions Process: Must have a referral from the Department of Transitional Assistance or the Department of Housing and Community Development and be eligible for Emergency Assistance. Client-based referral for those are between the ages of 18-21. Pregnant women above this age are also eligible.
    Website: https://www.shelterlistings.org/details/20944
  • Sojourner House, 85 Rockland Street, Roxbury, MA 02119, 617-442-0590, Capacity: 9 families.
    Services: Advocacy; counseling; food pantry; clothing; handicap accessibility; medical care through Health Care for the Homeless; day program; transportation for housing appointments only. Languages: Spanish; Haitian Creole.
    Restrictions: Sobriety.
    Referral: Must have a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development and be eligible for Emergency Assistance.
  • St. Ambrose Family Inn, 25 Leonard Street, Dorchester, MA 02122, 617-288-7675, Capacity: 19 families. Language: Spanish; Haitian/Creole.
    Services: Advocacy; counseling by referral; food provided; clothing if available; access to medical care; after school program for children; transportation for housing only.
    Admissions Process: Must have a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development and be eligible for Emergency Assistance.
  • Temporary Home for Women and Children, 41 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA 02114, 617-720-3611, Capacity: 15 families.
    Services: Advocacy, counseling; 3 meals/day; limited Spanish; handicap accessible; medical care day program; transportation; clothing if available.
    Restrictions: Non-EA eligible; women & children only; no drugs or alcohol; income restriction.
    Admissions Process: Referral needed from Department of Children & Family.