Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter Resources and Data

There are several forms, regulations and data associated with the Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter Program for our business partners and constituents.

Resources and data on the Emergency Assistance family shelter program can be found below. For documents in different languages, see the bottom of the page. Find out who's eligible for EA and how to apply.

Emergency Assistance Regulations, Statutes and Notices

• Emergency Assistance Regulations
• Housing Stabilization Governing Statute G.L. c. 23B, section 30(F)
• Housing Stabilization Notices

Emergency Assistance Placement Data

Emergency Assistance Placement Data

Shelter Types:

• Traditional Shelter (Bridge): Emergency Assistance shelter units staffed by contracted homeless service providers.  The Bridge Shelter Track is for families that have higher risks and more complex needs that take longer to resolve to find permanent housing.
• Hotel/Motel (Bridge): Emergency Assistance shelter units staffed by contracted homeless service providers located in hotels/motels, which are used when traditional shelter units are not available. (It is the Administration's goal to close all hotel shelters by the end of Summer 2025).
• Rapid: Emergency Assistance shelter units staffed by contracted homeless service providers. The Rapid Shelter Track is for families who have strengths and needs that allow them to find self-sufficient permanent housing more quickly with high intensity support.

Number of Families in EA Bridge Shelters (Traditional and Hotels/Motels) and EA Rapid Shelters - Daily Data

This data is being provided for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, it is subject to change, update, or correction.

The Commonwealth expects the total enrollment count to fluctuate as enrollments, exits, and subsequent data entry occur in batches. This dashboard is updated every Thursday.

Emergency Assistance Legislative Reports

• Hotel Closure Plan Report
• FY2023 Q2 EA Report
• FY2023 Q1 EA Report
• FY2022 Q4 EA Report
• FY2022 Q3 EA Report
• FY2022 Q2 EA Report
• FY2022 Q1 EA Report
• FY2021 Q4 EA Report
• FY2021 Q3 EA Report
• FY2021 Q2 EA Report
• FY2021 Q1 EA Report

Emergency Assistance Uniform Shelter Program Rules (USRs), Guidelines and Forms

View the rules for the Bridge Shelter track here.  View the rules for the Rapid Shelter track here. 

Form Name	Languages
Babysitting Guidelines	English	Amharic	Arabic	Haitian	Portuguese	Somali	Spanish
Babysitting Request Forms	English	Amharic	Arabic	Haitian	Portuguese	Somali	Spanish
Overnight Request Forms	English	Amharic	Arabic	Haitian	Portuguese	Somali	Spanish

Complaint form

Complaint Form Languages
English	Arabic	Kriolu ( Cape Verdean Creole)	Kreyòl ayisyen (Haitian Creole)	Português (Portuguese)	Español (Spanish)

Application Forms

The Certification of Need form is part of the process of applying for EA Family Shelter if your family is requesting a Reasonable Accommodation. If you want to work with your provider to gather required information, you will need to print the Certification of Need form and give it to your provider to fill it out.

Certification of Need Forms The Certification of Need form is part of the process of applying for EA Family Shelter if your family is requesting a Reasonable Accommodation. If you want to work with your provider to gather required information, you will need to print the Certification of Need form and give it to your provider to fill it out.
English	Spanish	Portuguese	Haitian Creole	Cape Verdean Creole

Consent for Reasonable Accommodation Forms
English	Spanish	Portuguese	Haitian Creole	Cape Verdean Creole

Request for Reasonable Accommodation Forms
English	Spanish	Portuguese	Haitian Creole	Cape Verdean Creole

Memorandum Of Understanding between DCF and DHCD regarding family reunification in shelter

Please note, this process can ONLY be initiated by the Department of Children and Family (DCF) Director of Area (DOA). If you wish to start this process, please have your DCF worker contact their DOA.

Memorandum Of Understanding

Language Assistance for Staff

Language Assistance