Community Support Program for Homeless Individuals

The Community Support Program for Homeless Individuals (CSP-HI) is a health-related social needs service for members who have found a permanent supportive housing opportunity and will be moving into that housing within 120 days.

Overview

CSP-HI includes help from specialized professionals who—based on their unique skills, education, or lived experience—can engage and support members experiencing homelessness when they are searching for permanent supportive housing and preparing for and transitioning to a housing unit.

Once members are housed, these specialized professionals coordinate access to physical health, behavioral health, and other needed services to help members sustain their tenancy and meet their health needs.

CSP-HI services include

• pre-tenancy supports, including engaging the member and helping search for an appropriate and affordable housing unit;
• support in transition into housing, including assistance arranging for and helping the member move into housing; and
• tenancy-sustaining supports, including helping the member remain in housing and connect with other community benefits and resources.

Services are flexible with the goal of helping eligible members get the skills and resources needed to maintain housing stability. CSP-HI services are delivered on a mobile basis to members in any setting that is safe for the member and staff. Services may be provided via telehealth, as appropriate. 

Eligibility

CSP-HI is available to any eligible MassHealth member who is enrolled in any managed care plan, as well as those who are in Fee-for-Service. For more information about eligibility requirements, read the Guidelines for Medical Necessity Determination for the Community Support Program and the CSP Program Regulation.

Medical necessity can be verified by diagnosis or by a member’s signed statement that they meet medical necessity criteria. Services may continue until the provider determines that the services are no longer medically necessary.

Providers

Here is a list of CSP-HI providers and their contact information as of May 2025. Members who would like to self-refer to CSP-HI should contact an organization in this list.

CSP-HI Services and Homeless Medical Respite Services

CSP-HI is a key component of MassHealth Homeless Medical Respite Services (HMRS). HMRS requires a partnership between a CSP-HI provider and a health care provider. More information about this service is available here. [link to come]

Related Research

• Estimating Cost Reductions Associated with Community Support Program for People Experiencing Homelessness
• Study: Supportive Housing Programs for Chronically Homeless Lower Health Care Costs

Key Resources

• CSP Program Regulation: 130 CMR 461.000
• CSP Rate Regulation: 101 CMR 362.00
• Guidelines for Medical Necessity Determination for the CSP
• CSP Manual for MassHealth Providers
• Managed Care Bulletin for Specialized CSP Services
• CSP Provider Applications
• MassHealth Webinars for Homeless Providers
• Resources for MassHealth Members Experiencing Homelessness
• Massachusetts Rehousing Data Collective
• Contacts for Massachusetts Continuums of Care and Continuums of Care Service Area
• Discharge Planning Resources: Helping Patients who are Homeless or Housing Unstable
• Reporting Adverse Incidents for Behavioral Health

Date published:	June 9, 2025