Background
The Healey-Driscoll Administration’s goal is to make sure that homelessness is brief, rare, and non-recurring, while making the best use of funds and operations for the long term. The Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter Program Bridge Shelter time limits are intended to support the goal of rapid rehousing. See the published report from the EA Commission that details these goals.
Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter will continue to be an program for unhoused families in Massachusetts. The Administration wants every family in EA Family Shelter to have long-term success and independence.
Where can I read the Program Guidance about the Six Month Length of Stay?
- Read the Emergency Assistance (“EA”) Program Guidance on Six Month Length of Stay. This guidance was written by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC). It explains how the 6-month limit applies to families. It includes how families are notified of their 6-month limit. Also, it discusses eligibility for hardship waivers and lease bridges (extra time if you have found housing and signed a lease).
How will I know what my shelter stay limit is?
Your placement letter will tell you when you need to leave shelter. You will have 6 months from when you were placed in shelter. You can ask your Case Manager at any time for the date or another copy of the letter.
How will my family receive notices about the shelter time limit?
- Your placement letter will tell you the date you need to leave shelter.
- Families who have an email address on file will get email reminder notices as they approach the end of their shelter stay. It is important to keep your email address up to date with your EA Family Shelter provider and in the Housing Help Hub.
- Please make sure your provider has an active email address for you and be sure to check your emails regularly for new information from HLC.
How can I request the changes or services I need while staying in shelter?
While you are in EA Family Shelter, you may need to request services like:
- a transfer to another EA Family Shelter location,
- an inspection of your EA Family Shelter unit, or
- a Reasonable Accommodation for a disability, medical issue, etc.
If you applied online for EA Family Shelter, you can ask for these services in the Housing Help Hub (HHH) portal.
If you did not apply for EA Family Shelter online, you can also talk to your Case Manager about how you can request these services.
In the HHH portal, you can view your requested services in the menu that looks like what is shown below:
Hardship Waivers: Can my family stay longer than 6 months?
If your family meets certain criteria written in the law (see below), you could be eligible for a hardship waiver. If your family is approved for a hardship waiver, you will be granted additional time in shelter. You can only get one hardship waiver.
You may need to provide documents or be assessed by a medical professional in order to confirm your eligibility.
You can get a hardship waiver if:
- You are up to date with all program requirements.
- AND
- One of the following situations applies to your family:
- A family member will be younger than 6 years old on your original shelter stay end date.
- A family member is a veteran and is not enrolled in services specifically tailored to veterans.
- A family member has a high-risk pregnancy.
- A family member has an Intellectual or Developmental Disability (IDD) or is a recipient of disability benefits (SSI/SSDI), or has a disability verified by DTA.
- Your family is at imminent risk of harm due to domestic violence concerns.
How do I apply for a Hardship Waiver?
When to Apply and How to Update Your Contact Information
Families who have an email address on file will get email reminder notices right before the Hardship Waiver Application Window opens, and right before the Hardship Waiver Application Window closes. It is important that you give your EA Shelter Provider your most up-to-date email address and that you check your account regularly for updates from HLC. Your case manager can help you change your email address, and you can update this information in the Housing Help Hub.
If your contact information has changed, the Head of Household can update these details by logging into the HHH Community Portal and select the “person” icon in the top right corner of the page. After you click the “person” select “My Info” from the menu options that drop down. The “My Info” screen will open. Here you will select the “Edit” button in the top right corner of the “My Info” screen. You can edit or update the following fields:
- Primary phone number and Type (Mobile or Other),
- Alternate Phone Number and Type,
- Primary Email Address,
- Alternate Email Address,
- Preferred Method of Contact, and
- Consent to receiving SMS text messages on primary phone.
After you have made the updates needed, select the “Save” button on the bottom right corner of the “My Info” screen. If you decide you do not need to make any edits you can select the “Cancel” button on the bottom left corner of the “My Info” screen.
You can only apply for a hardship waiver between 30 and 60 days before your shelter end date. Early or late applications will rarely be accepted, and only if you have a good reason.
Good reasons for a late application include but are not limited to:
- a family member was diagnosed with a condition that qualifies for a hardship waiver after the application deadline,
- a family member was hospitalized, or
- a family member passed away.
How to Submit
You must submit your hardship waiver application through the Housing Help Hub portal. You can ask your EA Family Shelter for help with these instructions that are provided below under Step 3.
Step 1: Fill out the form below to tell us how your family/s circumstances and eligibility for a Hardship Waiver.
| Hardship Waiver Application (click to download fillable pdf) |
|---|
Step 2: Gather any documents you want us to consider with your application. This may include, but is not limited to:
- A letter from a doctor confirming that you are pregnant, including your due date.
- Documents relating to domestic violence, such as restraining order against your abuser or a letter from an organization supporting you with domestic violence concerns.
- Confirmation of your veteran status, such as a Veteran’s ID card.
You should not send us medical documents, other than confirmation of pregnancy. We are unable to process these documents. This is to protect your sensitive medical information.
Step 3: Follow the instructions below to upload your application and documents to the Housing Help Hub. Your shelter provider can support you in submitting these documents.
- Go to the Self-Service Document Upload page.
- Provide your Last Name and Family Case Number.
- Click the "Next" option.
- Click “Upload Documents" or drag and drop documents to upload your application form and any other supporting documents.
- Click "Done".
Step 4: We will consider your application.
First, we will check if your family has a child younger than 6 years old in your EA Household. If you do, we will approve your request without checking the other criteria.
If you do not have a child younger than 6 years old, we will review your application to see if you meet any other criteria. We may reach out to you for more documents or to arrange an assessment by a specialist.
Step 5: We will let you know if you are eligible for a hardship waiver. We will send you the decision by email.
Lease Bridges: What can I do if I have found a housing unit and need a few weeks to move in?
If you have found housing and have a signed lease (or promissory note if you are moving into a public housing unit or a unit funded by a project-based voucher), you may be able to stay in shelter for additional time while you prepare to move in. This type of extension is called a lease bridge. You can only get one lease bridge.
If you think you might be eligible for a lease bridge, you should talk to your provider.
Reconsideration Requests: What can I do if I am denied a hardship waiver or lease bridge?
If you are denied a hardship waiver or lease bridge and you disagree with the decision, you can file a request for reconsideration. HLC must receive your reconsideration request within 7 days of the denial, so make sure you submit the request in plenty of time.
Reconsideration requests should be submitted using the form below. You can upload your request directly into the Housing Help Hub. Your shelter provider can support you with uploading your request.
| Length of Stay Reconsideration Request Form (click to download fillable pdf) |
|---|
Can my family reapply to EA Family Shelter after exiting due to the 6-month time limit?
- You can re-apply for the EA Family Shelter program if you have reached their 6-month time limit, and you leave shelter on time. How quickly you can return to shelter depends on the priority process, which is based on factors such as health and safety, and your family's place on the EA Family Shelter Contact List.
- If you do not leave shelter by your termination date, you cannot re-apply for EA Emergency Family Shelter for 12 months.
- If you are reapplying for shelter, you should ask their EA Bridge Shelter provider to fill out the Length of Departure Notice to help with the reapplication.
Winter Shelter Stay Extensions
Families in the Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter program with exit dates over the winter may be given additional time in shelter.
Who Can Get the Extension?
You may be eligible to receive this extra time in shelter if:
- Your shelter exit date is between December 20, 2025 – March 31, 2026;
- You are actively working with your Case Manager on rehousing; and
- You are following EA Family Shelter program rules (this means you have not been terminated).
Families with approved lease bridges will NOT be receiving this automatic extension. Should your lease fall through, please talk to your Case Manager to request an extension.
How Long is the Extension?
- If you are eligible, you may stay in shelter for an extra 91 days.
- This extra time is meant to help you and your family stay safe during the winter while looking for housing.
- If you have a pending termination or appeal hearing, you must follow all decisions from the Division of Hearings. This means that if you receive the 91-day extension and then are told you lost your appeal and must leave, your EA Family Shelter stay will end.
What Do I Need to Do to Receive the Extension?
- Stay in touch with your Case Manager. Make sure they have your most current phone number and email address. Remember, we communicate notifications to you by email.
- Continue checking your email for notifications going out through January 2026.
- Keep working on your housing plan.
- Follow EA Family Shelter program requirements.
What should I do to get ready to leave shelter?
We have created this page that compiles resources your family can access.