Family Shelters
MHSA provides safe and secure emergency shelter for more than 250 families experiencing homelessness each night. With sites throughout the Greater Boston area, our staff’s primary goal is to assist each family in finding and maintaining permanent housing. In collaboration with many community partners, our staff is trained to address a wide range of barriers faced by families experiencing homelessness including trauma, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health, financial insecurity and more. All families participating in MHSA’s Family Shelter programs are also required to adhere to the Uniform Shelter Rules, as determined by The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC). Routine inspections are conducted to ensure the quality and safety of all units.
Families can expect an environment where dignity, respect and empowerment are strongly emphasized by program staff and the agency as a whole. With the support of a focused, well-trained, and caring staff, families are encouraged to make meaningful, positive change while on their way to securing appropriate, affordable, and permanent housing.
All participants in MHSA’s Family Shelter programs must be referred and placed through EOHLC. For more information or to apply for emergency family shelter. call 866-584-0653 or click here.
Scattered Sites & Stabilization
Where: Administrative Office
564 Dudley Street, Dorchester, MA 02125 – Directions
Details: Adults with accompanying children and/or pregnant women only
Admission and placement conducted by the EOHLC
Contact: Mark White, Program Director
617-445-0869 / MHSAfamilyshelters@MHSAinc.org
Congregate
Where: Administrative Office
564 Dudley Street, Dorchester, MA 02125 – Directions
Details: Adults with accompanying children and/or pregnant women only
Admission and placement conducted by the EOHLC
Contact: Dooty Jean-Louis, Program Director
617-445-0869 / MHSAfamilyshelters@MHSAinc.org
Individual Shelters
MHSA provides temporary, emergency shelter, case management, and housing services, to adult individuals experiencing homelessness. The Bristol Lodge Men’s and Women’s Shelters provide safe and supportive accommodations for those in need in the Waltham community and beyond. Upon completion of the intake process, clients receive individualized case management services and are provided with referrals for housing, employment, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, financial assistance, nutrition programs, and more.
Both shelters operate on a first-come, first-served basis and utilize a pre-screening intake process each day. If you are in need of shelter you can contact our intake line, Monday through Friday, at 781-893-0108, starting at 9:00am. Both sites are accessible by public transportation and metered public parking is available.
Bristol Lodge Men's Shelter
When: Open daily 4:00pm-8:00am.
Where: Waltham Old Fire Station
27 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA – Directions
*please enter through the left side door
Details: 45 bed capacity, 18+ adult men only
Contact: Clayton Qualters, Program Director
781-893-0108 / bristollodge@MHSAinc.org
Bristol Lodge Women's Shelter
When: Open daily 4:00pm-8:00am.
Where:
205 Bacon Street, Waltham, MA – Directions
Details: 12 bed capacity, 18+ adult women only
Contact: Clayton Qualters, Program Director
781-893-0108 / bristollodge@MHSAinc.org
Stabilization
The MHSA Stabilization program provides support to families who have been placed into permanent housing (within Massachusetts) after participating in MHSA’s Family Shelter programs. Qualifying families receive 12 months of post-shelter case management, including landlord/tenant negotiation, referrals to various professional services and other supports aimed at housing stabilization and retention. Like MHSA’s shelter staff, Stabilization case managers are trained to address a wide range of barriers faced by recently homeless families, including trauma, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health, financial insecurity and more. Regardless of the type of permanent housing, case managers remain in regular contact with each family to ensure they have the tools to meet their individualized stabilization goals and remain out of shelter.
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) determines which families are eligible to receive stabilization services. Families placed into certain specialized housing programs may receive post-shelter support through an organization other than MHSA.
Details:
Where: 564 Dudley Street, Dorchester, MA 02125 (Administrative Office)
Contact: Mark White, Program Director – Stabilization
617-445-0869 / MHSAfamilyshelters@MHSAinc.org
Permanent Housing
Details:
To inquire about current availability and tenant selection, please contact:
Mark White, Director of Housing & Shelter Services 781-296-2652 / mwhite@MHSAinc.org
