What’s next after becoming EA eligible: the Contact List and more

This page explains what the Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter Contact List is, how it works and what to do after you are found EA eligible.

The state is not able to expand shelter capacity beyond 7,500 shelter units. The family shelter system does not have enough space or funding to shelter every eligible family. After you are determined EA eligible, your family will have options for what to do next. Your options will depend on your family’s priority number. Priority will be based on certain medical needs, personal safety risks, and other criteria. 

Options for families will include joining the Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter Contact List. Here you can learn more about:

• Your options after you are determined EA Eligible
• How the EA Family Shelter Contact List works 
• How the state will contact you if a spot is available 

What has changed with the EA Family Shelter Contact List (formerly the waitlist)?

This page has been updated to include changes announced on August 1, 2024. This includes changing: 

• The criteria for where a family is placed on the EA Family Shelter Contact List (previously known as the waitlist) after being found eligible. 
• The options for families if shelter is not currently available. This includes changes to Temporary Respite Centers (previously known as overflow sites).

What is the EA Family Shelter Contact List?

EA Shelter has a capacity of 7,500 units

The state is not able to expand shelter capacity beyond 7,500 shelter units. If you are eligible for EA Family Shelter, you will have the option to be on the EA Family Shelter Contact List. The Contact List is the order we contact families for placement in EA Family Shelter. Your spot on the Contact List will depend on certain priority criteria. Placement into EA Family Shelter is determined by your place on the Contact List.  
 

How can I confirm I am on the EA Family Shelter Contact List?

To confirm you are on the EA Contact List, call [phone] 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed on weekends and state holidays).  

Important actions after you have been found eligible for EA

If you are eligible, you will receive a list of documents you need to provide. You will have 30 days to provide all documents. These documents will verify your eligibility.

*IMPORTANT* If you do not give the state all documents needed within 30-days, you will be removed from the Contact List and denied from the EA Family Shelter program. Please continue to work with staff helping you apply to make sure you have given us all documents. 

What determines the order of the Contact List?

Each EA eligible family will complete a Clinical and Safety Risk Screening. This helps identify the order for families on the Contact List. The order is based on certain medical needs, personal safety risks, and other criteria. More information is below.

Contact List Priority Criteria

Starting August 1, 2024, your family will meet priority criteria if:

1. You have certain medical needs that meet EA priority criteria:
   • Family member aged 0-9 months
   • Family member with high-risk pregnancy
   • Family member in 3rd trimester of pregnancy
   • Family member with immunocompromised condition
   • Family member with medical device
   • Family member with three or more chronic conditions
   • Family member with medications requiring refrigeration
   • Family with primary caregiver aged 70 years or more
2. You are at risk of domestic violence, 
3. You received a DCF Health and Safety Assessment that identified a risk of harm,
4. You are homeless because of fire, flood, or other disasters, 
5. You are homeless from a “no-fault eviction”, 
6. You have at least one family member who is a veteran, or 
7. You are leaving a DCF Young Parent Living Program due to age limits

8. Families who have similar needs and/or risks will be ranked on the EA Contact List based on when they were found eligible.

   To learn more, read EA Guidance on Waitlist and Prioritization Procedures.  

If you are eligible for EA, but your family does not meet the priority criteria above: 

• You will remain on the Contact List but appear after families that meet the priority criteria.
• This means you will have to wait longer on the Contact List before being placed in EA Family Shelter. 
• Families who do not meet the criteria will have two options.   

What’s next after my family is found eligible for EA Family Shelter?

A. If your family meets priority placement criteria: 

If your family meets priority placement criteria, placed on the EA Family Shelter Contact List, placed at a Clinical and Safety Risk Assessment site, and work with your Homeless Coordinator to get placed

• You will be placed on the EA Family Shelter Contact List based on your priority number. 
• We have specific sites where families that meet priority criteria can stay while you are on the Contact List and waiting for shelter placement. These are called Clinical and Safety Risk Assessment sites. 
• Your Homeless Coordinator (the person helping you apply for EA) will tell you if you meet the priority criteria and can stay at one of these sites.  

B. If your family does not meet priority placement criteria, there are 2 options:

Option 1: 5-Days of Respite and Case Management + Wait 6 Months to be added to the Contact List: 

Option 1: 5-Days of Respite and Case Management + Wait 6 Months to be added to the Contact List

• If beds are available, you can enter a Temporary Respite Center (TRC) and stay for 5 weekdays. ​You will need to go to a Family Welcome Center to get a bed at a Temporary Respite Center.
• At the Temporary Respite Center, you will have access to meals, showers, and some basic needs. You will meet with a case manager every day in order to help you to understand your options and make a detailed plan for where you will go next. Your case manager will work to connect you to resources to support your housing stability. This may include housing and transportation supports, safety and health resources and benefits, re-ticketing options to another state, and overall helping you plan for your future.
• You may be able to stay longer if you meet criteria for an administrative extension. Reasons for extension include receiving access to housing, awaiting HomeBASE application review, a delay in your transportation tickets, a delay in being reprioritized for EA Family Shelter, health-related events, and meeting regularly with your case manager while continuing to work on other safe housing options.
• **If you select this option, you will not be added to the EA Family Shelter Contact List for 6 months.** You will only officially begin waiting for a spot in shelter after those 6 months have passed.  If you would like to stay on the EA Contact List, you must stay within the State of Massachusetts while you wait for a shelter unit. 

Option 2: Remain on EA Contact List and wait for EA shelter placement as soon as possible. 

Option 2: Remain on EA Contact List and wait for EA shelter placement as soon as possible

• This could take many months. 
• With this option, you will have to find your own temporary housing while you wait. 
• If you would like to stay on the EA Contact List, you must stay within the State of Massachusetts while you wait for a shelter unit.  

Other Important Information

With both option 1 and 2, you will be eligible for services like: 

• Money for travel to family, friends, or another place where your family can safely stay
• The “HomeBASE” program, which can help you pay for an apartment that you already identified

If you have a change that may impact your priority or eligibility 

Call us at [phone] 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed weekends and state holidays) in the following situations: 

• If there has been a change in your health condition 
• If there has been a change that may impact your priority or eligibility 
• Then you may need to be rescreened and your priority number could change. 

How long will I need to wait for shelter if I am on the Contact List?

Shelter units are limited, and eligible families are put on the EA Family Shelter Contact List until there is availability. Your priority number will determine how long you may have to wait. Families are currently waiting many months for a shelter unit.  

Even once you are placed, please note EA Family Shelter is temporary and not permanent housing and is limited in most cases to a 9-month stay. Families in EA must be engaged with case management and housing search efforts and follow shelter rules to stay in the program.  

Once I'm on the Contact List, how will I know if a unit becomes available?

The state will call, email and text you that shelter is available for you. Please make sure we have your U.S. cell phone number and email.

To accept your space in shelter:

• You have until 12pm the NEXT business day to respond.
• For example: You get a call, email, and text at 11am on Monday. To get placed, you must call OR email OR text back by Tuesday at 12pm

If you do not respond by 12pm the next business day:

• The state will go to the next person on the Contact List.
• You will NOT be removed from the Contact List or lose your spot in line for not responding in time the first time.
• You will NOT be removed from the Contact List or lose your spot in line for not responding in time the first time. HOWEVER, you will be terminated from the program if you are offered a shelter spot three times and do not respond by 12pm the next day each time. You can reapply immediately.

How will I get to the shelter?

Most families will need to arrive at the shelter with their things by 5pm.

You can only bring two bags per person. Each bag can only be about the size of a large suitcase.

If you need help getting to shelter, the state will help you get a ride. You must be ready to be picked up as soon as possible after the ride has been confirmed.  

Resources that may help you while you're on the Contact List

Summary of Resources for Families on the EA Contact List (also below)

Printable Flyer: English | Spanish | Portuguese | Haitian Creole | Cape Verdean Creole

Immediate Support

Family Welcome Centers

Visit our Family Welcome Centers in 2 locations in the Boston area

• You can get a bed in a Temporary Respite Center if you are already EA eligible and if we have space. 
• You can apply for food and cash benefits at these locations
• You can also get basic supplies like diapers, hygiene products, and formula.

Locations:

• Family Welcome Center Allston:
  • 14 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA 
    Open: Monday - Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm; Saturday-Sunday: 9:00am-3:00pm 
  • You CANNOT apply for Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter at this location
• Family Welcome Center Quincy:
  • Cove Fine Arts Building, 56 Wendell Ave, Quincy, MA 
    Open: Monday - Friday: 8:00am - 8:00pm; Saturday-Sunday: 9:00am-3:00pm
  • You CAN apply for Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter at this location 
  • You may also be able to apply for work authorization (EAD) at this location

Resources to access housing out of state: Re-ticketing program

• The Re-ticketing program helps families pay for travel tickets. These travel tickets can help get you to family, friends, or other resources where you can stay. If you want to buy travel tickets, talk to your Homeless Coordinator or Case Manager at a Temporary Respite Center or Clinical and Safety Risk Assessment Site.    

Other resources

Findhelp.org

• You can use Findhelp.org to find food, housing, transportation, and more in your area.

Call Mass2-1-1.

• 211 is a free state hotline. 211 can provide information about basic needs. This includes information like childcare, food, transportation, utility assistance, and housing. It is not a direct service but can help you access services that may be able help you.
• Mass2-1-1 is also available on the web, and has live chat if you click “211 CHAT” in the top right corner

You can also visit Family Resource Centers

• A Family Resource Center is different from Family Welcome Centers. They can help families get basic needs and resources. They have locations across Massachusetts. 
• Find Family Resource Center locations near you. 
• You CANNOT apply for Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter at these locations
  Resources to help pay for housing 

Resources to pay for housing

HomeBASE 
Families who are eligible for EA Emergency Family Shelter may also be eligible for the HomeBASE program. HomeBASE can help pay up to $45,000 over 3 years for rent and other costs. 

• Printable Flyer: English | Spanish | Portuguese | Haitian Creole | Cape Verdean Creole 

Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) 
Low-income households with or without children can apply to RAFT. RAFT pays up to $7,000 to help with rent, mortgage, utilities and other housing costs, including moving to new housing.

• Printable Flyer: English | Spanish | Portuguese | Haitian Creole | Cape Verdean Creole 

Resources to search for housing

• Metro Housing Boston offers a listing of apartment units available. (Boston Area only)
• Housing Navigator offers a listing of affordable housing.
  Note that there may be a long wait for openings.
• Apply for Public Housing.
  Note that there may be a long wait for openings.