Press Statement  Frequently Asked Questions about 5 Redlands Road

How many families will be placed at this site? 

There are 40 rooms at this congregate family shelter site. Depending on need and family size, the site may serve up to 40 families at a time. 

What floors are families residing on? 

Families will reside on the second and third floors. The first floor has a kitchen, dining area, playrooms for children, laundry, staff offices for case managers, and storage. 

What is the population that will be served at 5 Redlands? 

This site will serve families that qualify for the Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities’ (EOHLC) state Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter program Bridge Shelter track, which serves Massachusetts children and families who are homeless due to domestic violence, natural disaster, no fault eviction, or sleeping in an unsafe place with no other safe place to stay.  

To be determined eligible for the EA Family Shelter program, families are required to meet several criteria, including but not limited to the following:  

• The family must include a pregnant person or a child under the age of 21;
• The members of the family are residents of Massachusetts;
• The family’s gross income must be at or below 115% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for their family size;
• The family’s assets (excluding a first car) must not exceed $5000; and
• The reason the family is applying for shelter must be one of the following:
• No fault fire, flood, natural disaster;
• Fleeing or at risk of domestic violence; 
• No-fault eviction, condemnation, or foreclosure; or
• The family’s children are exposed to a substantial health or safety risk. 
• The family has no feasible, alternative housing available to them. 

EOHLC requires families to submit the following types of documents in order to verify identity and the relationship between applicant family members, and to verify statements families make in applying for the EA Family Shelter program. Required documents include: 

• Proof of identity;
• Proof of familial relationship (or pregnancy, as applicable);
• Massachusetts Residency;
• Citizenship or Immigration documents;
• Documents supporting the cause for homelessness; 
• Financial information on assets and income; and
• Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check for all adults 18 years of age and older.  

Families who identify Boston as their “home community” will receive prioritization at this site, meaning Boston is where they primarily work, live, or send their children to school already.  

Are background checks required before a family is placed at the site? 

Yes. All family members, 18 years of age or older, must get a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check pursuant to state law 760 CMR 67.02(12) through (16). To do so, all family members 18 years of age or older must sign a CORI acknowledgment form and verify their identity.  A check is then conducted through the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services CORI database and reviewed by EOHLC-employees prior to placement in an EA Shelter unit.  

Convictions or pending charges for the most serious crimes identified through the background check are not eligible for placement at this site or anywhere in the EA Family Shelter program. 

In addition to CORI checks, EOHLC completes Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) checks and warrant checks at initial application and for individuals placed in shelter.  

For more information, please visit our website: Learn more about CORIs. 

Are applicants with serious crimes eligible for placement at this site? 

No. Convictions or pending charges for the most serious crimes are not eligible for placement at this site or anywhere in the EA Family Shelter program. There is no time limitation for exclusion from the program for conviction or pending charges for the most serious crimes.  

For example, serious sex offense convictions or pending charges will automatically bar an individual from entering EA shelter. These crimes include, but are not limited to: 

• Felonies involving child pornography, sex offenses, human trafficking, or failure to register by a sex offender; and
• Felonies involving rape or sexual assault. 

Other serious offenses will exclude individuals from the EA program. For more information regarding eligibility, please visit: Eligibility for Emergency Assistance, 760 CMR 67.02(12) through (16), and EOHLC’s Criminal Offender Record Information Policy for the Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Program. 

How long will families be here? 

Each family is eligible to stay for up to six months, with limited administrative extensions granted if a family qualifies. The mission of the EA Family Shelter program is to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring.  

To that end, MOC’s goal is to transition residents to safe, stable housing as soon as possible. On-site case managers work regularly with each family to develop a plan for their housing search and help them navigate the process of leaving shelter for safe, stable housing. 

What is the visitor policy? 

No outside visitors or guests are permitted, except in the case of family service providers, such as the Department of Children and Families, mental health counselors, or early intervention providers. 

How will the site be secured?  

The site is equipped with 24/7 state-of-the-art surveillance and entry doors are locked at all times. No one can enter the building without a key FOB. On-site staff monitor security cameras around the clock. 

MOC’s staffing plan includes 16-18 dedicated full-time employees at the site. Staff are required to be present around the clock in shifts. 

What happens if residents break the rules? 

All families in the EA Family Shelter program must review, sign an acknowledgement, and agree to adhere to Uniform Shelter Rules (USRs). USRs inform families of the program expectations, including safety guidelines and ways in which staff can assist throughout their shelter stay.  

The USRs address the following non-exhaustive list of topics: children left unattended and rules around babysitting other families’ children; damage to property; drug testing; fire safety and smoking; illegal activity; legal issues; sexual harassment; substance abuse; and guidelines for visitors.  

Failure to adhere to rules results in written warnings, noncompliance notices, and ultimately, termination from shelter for repeated rule violations.  

Can you explain how the congregate living facility works? 

Residents are assigned a private room where they stay with their family throughout their time at the site. Each room shares a bathroom with the room next door. Each floor has a central gathering space with couches. The first floor offers a communal kitchen for cooking and a dining area. The EA Service Provider office space and playspaces for children are on the first floor.  

Rooms are inspected by MOC staff every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, or as needed in case of an emergency. 

How will the kids go to school? 

Students enrolled in Boston Public Schools will join the existing bus stop on Centre Street. If a student is enrolled outside the district, they will take separate buses to their existing districts.  

Students and school districts are bound by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a federal law that establishes specific rights and protections for students experiencing homelessness. The law includes provisions related to school stability and transportation, ensuring that students can remain in their school of origin, even when their housing situation changes, for the duration of the school year.  

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) oversees and enforces their transportation requirements and provides guidance and technical assistance to districts implementing McKinney-Vento mandates. MOC will follow any transportation expectations set forth by Boston Public Schools and coordinate any needs of school aged children living at the site. 

How many parking spaces are available? 

There will be 11 parking spaces on site, and an additional 10 parking spaces have been leased from a local business to accommodate parking needs. Some families may have a car, but the majority do not. 

How long will this facility operate here? 

The lease between the developer and Making Opportunity Count is currently for 5 years. Throughout the term, the use as a congregate living facility will remain the same. Neither party has any intention of expanding the site beyond 42 units. 

Who is responsible for rodents and trash removal? 

MOC has hired private trash and pest control. Additionally, MOC must adhere to the Contract with EOHLC, which has specific expectations and provisions addressing unit conditions.  

EOHLC Response to Inquiries 

Homeless Shelter or Congregate Living Facility 

The State’s Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter program serves more than 2,000 families at sites across the Commonwealth. Non-profit service providers, such as Making Opportunity Count (MOC), operate these sites under different models, including congregate living facilities, taking into account building size, location, number of units, and family needs. These models, which determine family living arrangements and the amount of time families will reside on-site, are what dictate the building use classification for zoning compliance.  

Over the past several months, MOC and the developer have worked with The City of Boston’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD) to comply with building and safety codes. The City of Boston’s ISD has approved the Alteration Permit for change in building use, and the Boston Fire Department has completed its inspection of the site. ISD issuance of an occupancy permit is pending the outcome of the Boston Zoning Board of Appeals hearing, scheduled for October 28. Further inquiries regarding the specifics should be directed to MOC and the developer.  

Who the Program Serves 

State law requires EOHLC to administer a program of “emergency housing assistance to needy families with children and pregnant women with no other children.” ch. 23B, s. 30; https://www.mass.gov/doc/760-cmr-67-5/downloadWhile the population served by the EA Family Shelter program is predominantly women and children, households may include male children or male caretakers.  and CORI requirements 

For further information on eligibility for the EA Family Shelter program, please visit EOHLC’s website: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/review-eligibility-apply-for-emergency-assistance-ea-family-shelter.  

Proof-of-Family 

Proof of familial relationship is required as part of the application process. EOHLC requires documentation (examples: birth certificate, guardianship, or custody paperwork) prior to placement at any Bridge Shelter site. Unrelated adults without children are not eligible for the EA Family Shelter program. The law governing the EA Family Shelter program requires third-party verification of eligibility criteria prior to placement.  

For further information on eligibility for the EA Family Shelter program, please visit our website: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/review-eligibility-apply-for-emergency-assistance-ea-family-shelter.  

Background Checks  

Criminal background checks are required before all adults over the age of 18 are placed into shelter.  

All family members 18 years of age or older must get a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check pursuant to state law and regulations.  https://www.mass.gov/doc/760-cmr-67-5/downloadTo do so, all family members 18 years of age or older must sign a CORI acknowledgment form and verify their identity. A background check is then conducted through the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services CORI database and reviewed by EOHLC staff prior to confirming eligibility and placement in the EA Family Shelter program.   

In addition to CORI checks, EOHLC completes Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) checks and warrant checks at initial application and routinely for individuals placed in the EA Family Shelter program.  

For more information, please visit our website: Learn more about CORIs. 

Exclusion for Serious Crimes 

Convictions or pending charges for the most serious crimes do lead to exclusion from the EA Family Shelter program. There is no time limitation for exclusion from the program for conviction or pending charges for the most serious crimes. As both the regulations and the policy state, the crimes listed are not exhaustive -- they encompass convictions or pending charges for equivalent crimes as well, and a determination is made by EOHLC’s Office of the General Counsel. Crimes for categorical exclusions include, but are not limited to: 

• First or second degree murder; 
• Voluntary manslaughter;
• Felonies involving child pornography, sex offenses, human trafficking, or failure to register by a sex offender;  
• Felonies involving rape or sexual assault; 
• Arson;
• Kidnapping; 
• Felonies or misdemeanors involving firearms within the previous six years; and
• Felony drug trafficking within the previous three years.   

Any adult family members with pending charges or convictions for these or similar offenses are categorically ineligible for the EA Family Shelter program and will be denied. 760 CMR 67.02(14).. 

An adult individual 18 years of age or older is presumed to be ineligible for the EA Family Shelter program if they have convictions or pending charges for the following crimes or their equivalents within the last 3 years:  

• Involuntary Manslaughter;
• Felonies involving spousal or elder abuse;
• Felony assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury;
• Felonies involving violence against children;
• Armed or unarmed robbery; and
• Felony burglary or breaking and entering.  

Applicants are presumed ineligible, unless they produce mitigating documents that specifically state that they do not “pose an unacceptable risk of harm to others.”  760 CMR 67.02(15). EOHLC only accepts such documents if they come from (1) a qualified mental health professional; (2) a criminal justice official; or (3) a third-party, such as the Department of Children and Families, a medical professional, or direct service provider. 760 CMR 67.02(15). EOHLC reviews these documents to determine if they are acceptable or not. A shelter provider would not draft such a letter as the individual is not residing in shelter while this review is conducted.  

In addition, any criminal conviction or pending charge within the last ten years that does not result in a categorical or presumptive exclusion is manually reviewed by EOHLC prior to a final determination on eligibility. As part of this review, EOHLC may also determine that a congregate shelter placement, such as Redlands Road, is not suitable and will instead direct the family to be placed in a different shelter setting. Further, EOHLC may recommend the family receive enhanced oversight.  

Please review the applicable EOHLC regulations for Eligibility for Emergency Assistance, 760 CMR 67.02(12) through (16), and EOHLC’s Criminal Offender Record Information Policy for the Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Program.  

Sex Offender Policy  

Anyone determined to be a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender by the Sex Offender Registry Board will not be placed at this congregate shelter site.  

Felony sex offense convictions or pending charges will automatically bar an individual from entering EA shelter. These crimes include, but are not limited to, the below list and any similar offenses: 

• Felonies involving child pornography, sex offenses, human trafficking, or failure to register by a sex offender;  and
• Felonies involving rape or sexual assault. 

Additionally, felonies involving violence against children may bar an individual from entering EA shelter, absent submission of satisfactory mitigating circumstances stating the individual does not pose an unacceptable risk to others in shelter by a qualified individual.  

For more information, please see Eligibility for Emergency Assistance, 760 CMR 67.02(12) through (16), and EOHLC’s Criminal Offender Record Information Policy for the Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Program. 

In addition to CORI checks, EOHLC completes Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) checks and warrant checks at initial application and routinely for individuals placed in the EA program.  

Change of Use 

Building occupancy capacity and use classification under the Boston zoning code are determined by municipal building inspectors, in this case, Boston’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD). Any change in occupancy or use would be reviewed and approved through ISD’s official process.  

Staffing 

MOC will have 24/7 on-site staffing for the program, as required for congregate EA shelter programs. Redlands will have three (3) designated shifts.  Within these shifts is an overlap of site managers. In their shelter program, MOC has a staffing pattern that allows them to assign additional residential counselors between sites based on need or to meet minimum requirements. Lastly, MOC has a team of three (3) case managers who help families address basic needs, access services, and assist in rehousing efforts. 

EOHLC’s priority with the EA Family Shelter program is the safety of families, staff, and the community. In January 2025, we commissioned a “Shelter Safety and Security Report” with the Ed Davis Company (EDC) to conduct an in-depth assessment of the security and safety conditions across the EA shelter system. With support from the legislature’s April 2025 supplemental budget, we have been able to implement recommendations - requiring that EA applicants provide documents demonstrating Massachusetts residency and lawful immigration status, verifying their identity and familial relationship, and mandating disclosure of criminal history - in addition to CORI checks on all adult applicants required prior to placement in EA shelter.