North American Indian Center of Boston Grandparents' Resource Guide

Housing and Services for the Homeless

Living in the Greater Boston area at times may make you feel like a foreigner. You aren't. When Massachusiet tribal sachem Chickatawbut was introduced to a small, bristly, fair skinned Miles Standish in 1621 by Squanto, he hardly imagined his new Plymouth Colony neighbor was much of a threat, even wearing armor and shouldering a musket. But the "people of the great hill" were no match for the sickness the colonist brought that wiped out Chickatawbut's people and cleared the way for another colony. Boston was built on the ancestral homeland of Algonquin people who had lived here for many thousands of years before colonization. Make no mistake, you are home.

Support Agencies

  • The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless

    15 Bubier Street, Lynn, MA 01901

    Advocates for people experiencing homelessness or those at risk of homelessness in areas of public policy, including but not limited to: the availability of decent, accessible, affordable housing; adequate income maintenance programs; medical care; mental health services; social services; job training and employment.

  • Homestart

    105 Chauncy Street, Suite 502, Boston, MA 02111

    Homestart provides several services to help end homelessness. These include housing search, rental assistance, housing subsidies, housing stabilization, homelessness prevention, and money management.

  • Action for Boston Community Development

    178 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111

    ABCD's programs serve individuals and families at every stage of their lives. Services include child care, youth services, education, family and elder services, fuel assistance, health care, housing, job training, money management, and nutrition counseling.

  • ABCD: The Housing Court Advocacy Program

    178 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111

    The Housing and Homelessness Prevention Department has an array of homelessness prevention and stabilization programs. This program helps low and moderate income households living in Boston prevent eviction, maintain their tenancy, and understand their tenant’s rights and responsibilities. The HCA program staff advocate for tenants before and during court proceedings to help maintain their tenancy.

  • Boston Rental Housing Center

    Provides advice, information, and assistance to Boston landlords and tenants who have problems or questions about rental housing issues.

  • Boston Fair Housing Commission

    1 City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA 02111

    A city run advocacy commission established to eliminate discrimination and increase access to housing in Boston through investigation and enforcement, marketing, housing counseling, and interagency coordination.

  • Boston Housing Authority

    52 Chauncey Street, Boston, MA 02111

    Provides conventional public housing and affordable housing through the administration of rental assistance programs including the federal Section 8 Voucher program and the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program.

  • Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership

    125 Lincoln Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02111-2503

    Serves individuals and families to find and retain affordable housing and provides resources about housing and housing-related issues.

Shelters

  • Rosie's Place

    889 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118

    Shelter and sanctuary for poor and homeless women, offering emergency and long-term assistance to women who have nowhere else to turn.

  • Pine Street Inn

    444 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118

    Comprehensive services including housing, job training and placement, emergency shelter and outreach to homeless.

  • Casa Myrna Vasquez

    P.O. Box 180019, Boston, MA 02118

    Provides emergency shelter, residential programs, counseling and support services, and transitional housing for women who are victims of domestic violence and their children.