Contact for Apply for Emergency Family Shelter - EA
Massachusetts Emergency Family Shelter Contact Line
Phone
Open M-F 8am-5pm - Closed on State Holidays
The Details of Apply for Emergency Family Shelter - EA
What you need for Apply for Emergency Family Shelter - EA
Families facing a housing crisis may be deemed eligible if they meet the following criteria:
- Be a resident of Massachusetts
- Meet the gross income standards for Emergency Family Shelter - EA
(see 'More Info' section below for program income standards) - Have children under the age of 21, or be pregnant
and the reason for homelessness is one of the following:
- No-fault fire, flood, natural disaster, condemnation, or foreclosure
- Fleeing domestic violence (current or within past 12 months)
- No-fault eviction
- Child(ren) are exposed to a substantial health and safety risk
Emergency Family Shelter - EA applicants must provide all requested verifications within 30 days.
How to apply Apply for Emergency Family Shelter - EA
To apply for Emergency Family Shelter - EA services, please call (866) 584-0653, 8:00am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. You can also apply by visiting one of our offices (see schedules below in the "In person" section).
Note: The offices and phone line are closed on state holidays.
There is no on-line application for emergency shelter.
Translation / Language Help:
If you do not speak English well and need help understanding or applying for the Emergency Family Shelter - EA program, we will provide free over-the-phone language translation services.
For Program Participants: If you have already been placed in a shelter and need help understanding any program information or documents, tell your shelter provider that you need an interpreter and one will be provided to you over the phone, free of charge.
Please see details below on when regional offices are open. On days when offices are open, their operating hours are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
You can also apply by calling (866) 584-0653. There is no on-line application for emergency shelter.
- Boston – 2201 Washington Street, Boston (Roxbury) - Nubian Square - Open Monday through Friday.
- Brockton – 60 Main Street - Open Monday through Friday.
- Chelsea – 80 Everett Avenue, 3rd Floor - Open Monday through Friday.
- Hyannis – 181 North Street - Open Tuesday.
- Lawrence – 280 Merrimack Street - Open Monday through Friday.
- Lowell – 131 Davidson Street - Open Thursday.
- New Bedford – 160 West Rodney French Boulevard - Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
- Salem – 45 Congress Street, Suite 1176 - Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
- Springfield – 243 Cottage Street - Open Monday through Friday.
- Worcester – 50 Southwest Cutoff - Open Monday through Friday.
Translation / Language Help:
If you do not speak English well and need help understanding or applying for the family Emergency Assistance program, in person or over the phone, we will provide free language translation services.
For Program Participants: If you have already been placed in a shelter and need help understanding any program information or documents, tell your shelter provider that you need an interpreter and one will be provided to you over the phone, free of charge.
If you are seeking other non-Emergency Family Shelter - EA services, please see Service Provider Locator
More info for Apply for Emergency Family Shelter - EA
Program Income Eligibility
Applicants are income eligible for Emergency Family Shelter – EA if their family’s gross income is at or below 115% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines* (FPG) for their family size.
Gross income includes income from sources such as wages from an employer or self-employment, gifts, alimony, child support, and government payments such as Social Security, TAFDC, SSI and SSD. This is not a complete list of the types of income that are counted/not counted for EA.
There also are some types of income that are not counted for EA, such as food stamps (SNAP) and some kinds of education grants, loans and scholarships. For a more complete list see 760 CMR 67 and 106 CMR 704.
The current FPG income limits are shown in the table below:
|
Family Size |
115% of Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) |
|
1 |
$1,397 |
|
2 |
$1,890 |
|
3 |
$2,382 |
|
4 |
$2,875 |
|
5 |
$3,368 |
|
6 |
$3,860 |
|
7 |
$4,353 |
|
8 |
$4,845 |
|
Per Additional Person |
$493 |
*Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) effective January 19, 2023.
Contact for Apply for Emergency Family Shelter - EA
Address
Phone
Open M-F 8am-5pm - Closed on State Holidays