By Giselle Routhier, on behalf of Homes for Families
Family homelessness in Massachusetts has reached record levels over the past year, with an average of 4,800 families sleeping in shelter each night between July 2014 and January 2015. As the number of homeless families has grown, the emergency shelter system has expanded to meet the ongoing need. Massachusetts has operated as a “right to shelter” state since 1983, meaning that the state is obligated to provide shelter for all eligible families. Families are defined as households with children under the age of 21 or that include a pregnant woman. The system is funded through the State budget and has been overseen by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) since 2010. This report examines the state’s family shelter system in detail, with the goal of understanding family needs, services provided, and best practices. This report also offers recommendations for moving forward to address homelessness in Massachusetts.
Click here to read the report: https://app.box.com/s/r3c0ayz0jg9s1axn3ev1jlvo44cqkugl