Resources for Homeless Families

Housing and Homeless Assistance - US Dept. of Housing & Urban Development:

https://www.hudexchange.info/housing-and-homeless-assistance/
 

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Domestic Violence Hotline:

1-800-799-7233

https://www.thehotline.org/

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Human Traficking Resource Center:

1-888-373-7888

https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

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Locate the nearest Community Health Center:

https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov

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Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) - cash benefits and SNAP (food stamps):

https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-transitional-assistance

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Find College Scholarships:

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

Emergency Housing Assistance Info

1. Emergency Assistance family shelters and HomeBASE rental assistance

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HomeBASE is an alternative to shelter for families who are eligible for Emergency Assistance shelter. HomeBASE recipients can receive first/last month's rent and security deposit, and/or a monthly stipend for up to a year to help pay for rent and utilities. Maximum total assistance is capped at $10,000 for a 12-month period. Some families receive HomeBASE benefits to avoid entering a homeless shelter. Other families receive HomeBASE benefits to help them leave shelter and move into stable housing.

• For homeless families with children under the age of 21 and/or pregnant women whose income is no higher than 115% of the federal poverty guidelines

• To see if you qualify for family shelter or HomeBASE, click this link, then use the links on the left side of the page

• For a list of locations where you can apply for family shelter or HomeBASE, click here, then scroll down and click on "In person", or call 866-584-0653

• To see how much income meets the 115% of poverty standard, click here

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2. RAFT (Residential Assistance to Families in Transition) and other types of assistance for families in a housing crisis

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• RAFT is for families with a household income up to 50% of Area Median Income who are homeless and moving into subsidized or private housing, or who are at risk of becoming homeless due to a significant reduction of income or increased expenses.

• Eligible families may receive up to $4,000 from RAFT in a 12-month period to pay for expenses to avoid homelessness or rapidly exit homelessness.

• To access RAFT benefits or other assistance, start by visiting this link

• Scroll down to find the agency nearest you

• You will be sent to a website for an agency that administers housing assistance; call the number on that website, or click on 'contact'

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• Visit www.masshousinginfo.org

• Scroll down, and click on the part of the map where you are located, or select the city/town where you are located from the pull-down menu

• You will be sent to a website for the regional agency that administers housing assistance; call the number on that website, or click on 'contact'