If you are experiencing homelessness or are at imminent risk of homelessness, please click on the links below to find more information about potential resources for you and your household.
*Please note that these lists are not comprehensive. If you are a shelter or service provider and would like to add or update your listing, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 781-595-7570.
Families with Children Under the Age of 21- Shelters for Families with Children: If you are experiencing homelessness and have a child under the age of 21 or you are pregnant, you and your family may be eligible for placement in a family shelter.
- HomeBASE Diversion and Rehousing Assistance for Families with Children: If you are experiencing homelessness and have a child under the age of 21 or you are pregnant, your family may be eligible for assistance through the Department of Housing and Community Development’s HomeBASE program.
- Residential Assistance for Families in Transition Homelessness Prevention Program: If you and your household are at imminent risk of homelessness, you may be eligible for RAFT.
- Educational Rights for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness: Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, the educational rights of students experiencing homelessness are protected. Learn more about students' rights to enrollment, transportation, and services here. Thank you to web designer Joanna Roux and Professor Monica Texeira de Sousa of New England Law | Boston for sharing this with us!
- For students who are experiencing homelessness after surviving natural disasters (including the 2017 hurricanes in Puerto Rico, Texas, and Florida), the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has issued some guidance about the rapid enrollment in Massachusetts schools. Read the guidance in the section "Welcoming Students from Puerto Rico".
- Shelters for Unaccompanied Adults: If you are experiencing homelessness and are an individual over 18 or household without a child under the age of 21 in your care, you may be eligible for placement in an individual shelter.
- Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Homelessness Prevention Program: If you are an elder, person with a disability, an unaccompanied youth, and other household without minor children, you may be eligible for up to $4,000 to help pay for expenses to avoid or exit homelessness thorugh the RAFT program under the expanded definition of family. At least $3 million will be made available for fiscal year 2019 (which ends on June 30, 2019) for households under this expanded definition of family.
- The fiscal year 2019 state budget includes $3.3 million for housing and wraparound services for youth and young adults age 24 and younger who are experiencing homelessness. As of October 2018, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services is reviewing applications from providers on how those funds will be distributed. The plan is to provide funds to cover ever region of the state.
- There are a limited number of shelters targeted to youth and young adults. One of those shelters is Y2Y in Cambridge.
- Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Homelessness Prevention Program: If you are an unaccompanied youth or young adult, you may be eligible for up to $4,000 to help pay for expenses to avoid or exit homelessness thorugh the RAFT program. At least $3 million will be made available for fiscal year 2019 (which ends on June 30, 2019) for households under the expanded definition of family, which includes youth and young adults without dependent children.
- Shelters for Adults and Children Fleeing Domestic Violence Situations: If you are fleeing domestic violence, you (and your children, if applicable) may be eligible for placement in a domestic violence shelter.
- If you and your household are experiencing homelessness due to a natural disaster, you may be eligible for resources and support from the state and federal governments. Click here to learn more.
- Key terms to better understand the resources.