How to Get Help

For more information, contact the Division of Housing Stabilization at 617-573-1370
or toll free at 877-418-3308, TTY 617-573-1140.

 Locate a Service Provider 

Also, here is a link if you plan to Apply for Public Assistance

Eligibility

Effective March 1, 2012, the new Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) issued pursuant to the Federal Register (Vol.77, No 17, pp 4034-35 issued on Thursday, January 26, 2012) will be used to determine eligibility for Emergency Assistance (EA). The EA eligibility for applicants and recipients is 115 % of the Federal Poverty Guideline. This change has been programmed into ASIST. Below is the EA eligibility standard chart to use when determining eligibility.”

Overview

The Division of Housing Stabilization (DHS), DHCD's newest unit, is charged with the mission of preventing homelessness, sheltering those for whom homelessness is unavoidable, and rapidly re-housing the homeless in stable, permanent housing. DHS's work is guided by the Massachusetts Commission to End Homelessness' Plan to End Homelessness and the Patrick-Murray Administration's Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness.

The Emergency Assistance program (EA) has moved from the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) to DHCD. DHCD-employed EA workers in the field will now be a part of DHS and will respond to a family or individuals that walk into one of the 22 DTA offices seeking housing assistance.

The Division of Housing Stabilization also oversees the Regional Networks created under the auspices of the Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness (ICHH). With EA and oversight of the Networks consolidated into one department, DHCD is leading the way with a new level of coordination between the Commonwealth's shelter agencies and key partners in cities and towns around the Commonwealth. This coordination will serve as a national model and aim to address the problem of homelessness by connecting families to the right resources at the right time.

Housing Stabilization Notices

2012
 Housing Stabilization Notice 2012-03 03 pdf format of hsn201203.pdf -  HomeBase relationship to Emergency Assistance; HomeBase not Subject to EA 12-Month Rule
 Housing Stabilization Notice 2012-02 pdf format of hsn201202 - Emergency Assistance Applicants Previously Granted Flex Funds Whose Benefits are Terminated
Housing Stabilization Notice 2012-01 pdf format of hsn201201.pdf - Implementation of Increase in the Federal Poverty Guidelines effective March 1, 2012; Maximum Income Limits for Emergency Assistance

2011
 Housing Stabilization Notice 2011-03 pdf format of Housing Stabilization Notice 2011-03 file size 3MB - Guidance on Basic Verifications on Intake.  On October 3, 2011, the Division of Housing Stabilization approved a new Housing Stabilization Notice: Guidance on Basic Verifications for Intake; clarifying longstanding procedures, and issued a new form for verification of committed long-term relationships as an attachment to the Housing Stabilization Notice.   TES-SA-01 Form docx format of TES SA 1 Form - Declaration of Family Relationship
Housing Stabilization Notice 2011-02 pdf format of HSN201102 - Definition of Spouse
Housing Stabilization Notice 2011-01 pdf format of HSN201101 - EA Eligibility of Former Flex Funds Recipients
  - Exhibit A pdf format of exhibita FlexFund Notice to Former FlexFund Client
  - Exhibit B pdf format of exhibitb FlexFund Extension Notice to FlexFund Clients
  - Exhibit C pdf format of exhibitc FlexFund Notice to EA Families
 

2010
 Housing Stabilization Notice 2010-02 pdf format of HSN201002 - Guidance Eligibility Issues
Housing Stabilization Notice 2010-01 pdf format of HSN201001 - Guidance on Additional Adult Household Members
  - PAAHM 01 pdf format of Request to add adult household memeber - Request to Include Adult Household Member
  - PAAHM 02 pdf format of PAAHM02 - Notice of Approval/Denial of Proposed Household Member
  - EAR 01 pdf format of EAR01 - Request to Include Extra Adult Household Member
  - EAR 02 pdf format of EAR02 - Notice of Approval/Denial of EAR
 

2009
 Housing Stabilization Notice 2009-02 pdf format of HSN200902

HomeBASE

Documentation

HomeBASE Program Family Shelter (Emergency Assistance) pdf format of homebaseflyer.pdf
HomeBASE Program Family Shelter (Emergency Assistance) - Spanish doc format of homebasenotice-spanish.doc

HomeBASE Program Administration Notices

2012
 2012-01: Universal Waiver of HomeBASE Regulations, Appropriate Size Guidelines pdf format of 12-01.pdf  

2011
 2011-06: Suspension of HomeBASE Rental Assistance at the Front Door - Revised pdf format of 11-06.pdf
2011-05: Information on Potential Landlord Discrimination pdf format of 11-05.pdf
2011-04: New Guidance on Temporary Accommodation Placements pdf format of 11-04.pdf
2011-03: Waivers to HomeBASE regs re: Household Assistance, Stabilization Plan, Rent Limits, and Conditional HomeBASE Assistance pdf format of 11-03.pdf file size 1MB  (file size 1MB)
2011-03(b): Universal Waiver regarding Conditional HomeBASE Assistance doc format of 11-03b.doc (revised)  
2011-02: Transition of Flex Fund and HPRP/MRVP STA Families to HomeBASE<strong>2010</strong> pdf format of 11-02.pdf  
2011-01: Shelter and Motel Rehousing Using HomeBASE Resources doc format of 11-01.doc  

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please contact DHCD at 617-573-1100

Los documentos para los clientes serán traducidos al español. Muy pronto usted podrá encontrar estos documentos visitando la página web www.mass.gov/dhcd. En la cajita de búsqueda escriba Rental Assistance Management para fácil acceso. Mientras tanto, si tiene preguntas, por favor llame al 617-573-1370 y alguien en español le contestará.

Flexible Funds Program

Documentation

Flexible Funds, Case Review and Uniform Rules pdf format of flexfunds-casereview.pdf
Flex Funds Administrative Plan pdf format of ff-adminplan.pdf
Flex Funds Administrative Plan Amendment pdf format of ff-adminplanamend.pdf
Uniform Flex Fund Rules pdf format of uniformflexfund.pdf
Flex Funds Case Review Policy pdf format of ff-casereview.pdf
Housing Stabilization Notice 2011-01 pdf format of HousingStabilizationNotice2011-01.pdf
Notice to former Flex Funds clients pdf format of NoticetoformerFlexFundsclients.pdf  
Flex Fund Extension Notice to Flex Funds clients pdf format of FlexFundExtensionNoticetoFlexFundsclients.pdf  
Flex Fund Notice to EA Families pdf format of FlexFundNoticetoEAFamilies.pdf
Flex Funds Approval Denial Termination forms pdf format of FlexFundsApprovalDenialTerminationforms.pdf
Flex Fund Notice to Current Flex Fund Clients - Spanish Translation doc format of spanish-ffn-tocurrent.doc
Flex Fund Notice to Former Flex Funds Client - Spanish Translation doc format of spanish-ffn-toformer.doc
Flex Fund Notice to Emergency Assistance Families - Spanish Translation doc format of spanish-ffn-toemergency.doc
Uniform Flex Funds Rules - Spanish Translation doc format of spanish-uniformflexfunds.doc
Case Review Policy - Spanish Translation doc format of spanish-casereview.doc

Una versión en español de este documento está disponible a través de su proveedor o su coordinador de personas sin hogar si usted lo solicita. Usted puede encontrar versiones en inglés y en español de este documento visitando el sitio web de DHS en www.mass.gov/dhcd. Escriba DHS en la cajita de búsqueda para fácil acce.

Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter Rules & Guidelines

Documentation

Uniform Shelter Program Rules pdf format of uniform-shelterprog.pdf
Babysitting Guidelines and Forms pdf format of babysitting-guide.pdf

Emergency Assistance Regulations

Emergency Assistance Regulation (current) - 106 CMR 309 pdf format of 106cmr309.pdf
Summary of Recent EA Regulation 106 CMR 309 Changes pdf format of summary106cmr309.pdf
Recent Shelter Provider Awards doc format of summaryawars21709.doc

Facts and Figures

Homeless Caseload Data FY05 thru FY09 pdf format of homelessnumberchart.pdf

Quarterly EA Legislative Report

December 2010 pdf format of 2010dec.pdf file size 5MB

September 2010 pdf format of 2010sep.pdf

June 2010 pdf format of 2010jun.pdf

March 2010 pdf format of 2010mar.pdf

December 2009 pdf format of 2009dec.pdf

September 2009 pdf format of 2009sep.pdf

Informational Documents

Text of Article 87 Legislation

DHCD staff that will assist you are located at DTA offices in the following locations:

Boston Family Housing
2201 Washington St.
Roxbury, MA 02119
617-989-6100

Brockton
75 Commercial St.
Brockton, MA 02302
508-895-7000

Cape Cod
77 School Rd. Ext.
Hyannis, MA 02601
508-862-6600

Chelsea
80Everett Avenue
Chelsea, MA
617-551-1700

Fall River
1567 North Main St.
Fall River, MA 02720
508-646-6200

Fitchburg
473 Main St.
Fitchburg, MA 01420
978-665-8700

Framingham
110 Mt. Wayte Ave.
Framingham, MA 01702
508-661-6600

Greenfield
1 Arch Place, Suite 2A
Greenfield, MA 01301
413-772-3400

Holyoke
72-100 Front St.
P.O. Box 1370
Holyoke, MA 01041
413-552-5400

Lawrence
15 Union Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
978-725-7100

Lowell
131 Davidson St.
Lowell, MA 01852
978-446-2400

Malden
200 Pleasant St.
Malden, MA 02148
781-388-7300

New Bedford
160 West Rodney French Boulevard
New Bedford, MA 02744
508-961-2000

North Shore
35 Congress St.
Salem, MA 01970
978-825-7300

Pittsfield
75 South Church St. 4th Floor
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-236-2000

Plymouth
61 Industrial Park Rd.
Plymouth, MA 02360
508-732-3100

Southbridge
1 North St.
Southbridge, MA 01550
508-765-2400

Springfield Liberty Street
95 Liberty Street
Springfield, MA 01103
413-858-1118
413-858-1051

Taunton
21 Spring St.
Taunton, MA 02780
508-884-5300

Worcester
9 Walnut St.
Worcester, MA 01608
508-767-3100

ICHH REGIONAL NETWORK CONTACTS (updated September 2011)

Boston

Elizabeth Doyle
Convener
Boston DND
edoyle.dnd@cityofboston.gov
617-635-3880

Cape & Islands

Beth Albert
Convener
Barnstable County
balbert@barnstablecounty.org
 508-375-6628

Merrimack Valley

Ed Cameron
Convener
Community Action Teamwork
ecameron@comteam.org
978-459-0551

Kristin Ross-Sitcawich
Coordinator
Community Action Teamwork
kross@comteam.org
978-459-0551 x 5617

Metro Boston

Kory Eng
Convener
United Way of Mass Bay and Merrimack Valley
keng@supportunitedway.org
617-624-8129

Kristina Hals
Coordinator
kristina.hals@gmail.com
617-449-8115

Metro West

Paul Mina
Convener
United Way of Tri-County
paul.mina@uwotc.org
508-370-4824

Jen Maseda
Coordinator
United Way of Tri-County
jen.maseda@uwotc.org
 508-872-3291 x4831

North Shore

Beth Hogan
Convener
NSCAP
bhogan4079@aol.com
978-531-0767 x 101

Pascale Desir
Coordinator
NSCAP
pdesir@nscap.org
978-531-0767 x 128

South Shore

Dennis Carman
Convener
United Way of Greater Plymouth County
Dcarman@uwgpc.org
508-583-6306

Lora Wooster
Coordinator
United Way of Greater Plymouth County
Lwooster@uwgpc.org
508-583-6306 x 108

South Coast

Melissa Vanhorn
Convener
United Way/Taunton Attleboro
Melissa@uwgat.org
508-222-2337 x106

Janet Richardi
Coordinator
sococonsult@gmail.com
508-725-2246

Western Mass

Sylvia deHaas Phillips
Convener
United Way of Pioneer Valley
sdehaas@uwpv.org
 413-639-0216

Gerry McCafferty
Convener
GMcCafferty@springfieldcityhall.com
 413-787-6500

Pamela Schwartz
Coordinator
pschwartz77@gmail.com
413-219-5658

Worcester

Jacqui Vachon-Jackson
Convener
City of Worcester
vachon-jacksonj@ci.worcester.ma.us
(508) 799-1400 x 249