Family Shelter Resources

Q. WEEKDAY: WHAT TO DO IF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES PRESENT DURING

THE WEEKDAY IN NEED OF SHELTER?

• When possible, families should be encouraged to return to safe housing options and informed that the state is currently unable to expand the Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter system capacity beyond 7,500 shelter units. Due to this, the family shelter system may not have enough space to shelter every eligible family right away. When there is not a space, eligible families will be placed on a waitlist.  

• Families with children and pregnant people in need of shelters should be referred to the State Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) Offices in Boston or Chelsea or Family Welcome Center (FWC) in Quincy, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm/weekdays to complete an application for Emergency Assistance Shelter (EA Shelter). They can also call 866-584-0653, during those same times, to complete an application for EA by phone (Click Here for Instructions on Phone Applications).  

  • FWC Quincy: Eastern Nazarene College, Cove Fine Arts Building, 56 Wendell Ave, Quincy

  • EOHLC Boston – 2201 Washington Street, Boston (Roxbury) - Nubian Square

  • EOHLC Chelsea - 80 Everett Avenue, 3rd Floor, Chelsea

• They MUST complete this application to determine eligibility for Emergency Assistance  Family Shelter (EA Shelter). More information can be found here.  If they are eligible or presumptively-eligible they may be placed on a waitlist. More information on the waitlist can be found here.

• NOTE: A family that is on the waitlist and in need of same-day, overnight shelter should present to a Family Welcome Center to request entry or re-entry to a safety-net shelter site. Safety-net shelter placements are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis.

  • FWC Allston: 14 Harvard Ave, Allston

  • FWC Quincy: Cove Fine Arts Building, Eastern Nazarene College, 56 Wendell Ave, Quincy

 

Q. WEEKEND: WHAT TO DO IF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES PRESENT DURING

THE WEEKEND OR HOLIDAYS IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE  SHELTER?

• Families should be encouraged to identify safe, alternative housing options, particularly over the weekend and holidays and apply for EA shelter during regular business hours.

• Families with children and pregnant people who are unable to identify safe, alternative shelter should be referred to the FWCs in Allston or Quincy between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm on weekends or holidays to be referred for safety-net shelter placement, if available.

  • FWC Quincy: Eastern Nazarene College, Cove Fine Arts Building, 56 Wendell Ave, Quincy  

  • FWC Allston: 14 Harvard Ave, Allston

• NOTE: Only the FWC Quincy is open on holidays.

 

Q. WHAT IF A FAMILY HAS ALREADY APPLIED FOR EA SHELTER AND IS ON THE

WAITLIST WITH NOWHERE TO GO?

• Families with children and pregnant people on the waitlist and in need of same-day, overnight shelter should be directed to either of the two Family Welcome Centers, Monday through Friday, to request entry or re-entry to an Temporary Safety Net Site. On weekends, they should present to either the FWC in Allston or Quincy to request entry or re-entry to a safety-net shelter on weekends and holidays.

• Waitlist status may be checked by families by calling 1-866-584-0653 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.

 

Q. WHAT IF A CHILD AND THEIR FAMILIES ARRIVES AFTER HOURS WITH A NEED

FOR SHELTER?

• Families who arrive after hours with no medical issues and no shelter should be provided with the attached compilation of resources, and be advised to present to the Family Welcome Centers or EOHLC Offices when they are reopened at 8:00 am. 

• This process may change as more safety-net/overflow shelters are deployed.