Housing, Health, Hunger & Help: Area Shelters
Information on shelters, food, medical and legal assistance for the homeless and housing insecure in the Greater Boston area.
NEED HELP RIGHT NOW?
For help 24/7, please contact BOS:311. You can dial 3-1-1 or call 617-635-4500.
Cold Relief Heatline
Call the Cold Relief Heatline at 1-800-632-8175 to find out where to apply for Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP), Weatherization (WAP), and the Heating System Repair and Replacement Program (HEARTWAP).
Homelessness Support
- Annual Homeless Census (BPHC)A one-night Point in-Time count of homeless persons living on the streets, in emergency shelters for individuals or families, in domestic violence programs, in residential mental health or substance abuse programs, transitional housing and in specialized programs serving homeless youth and homeless veterans
- Boston Public Health Commission Homelessness PageMain page for the Boston Public Health Commissions Resources for the Homeless. Includes links to shelter lists, transitional housing resources, career resources and more.
- Cambridge CAN (C-CAN)Part of the Cambridge Continuum of Care (CoC), a group of organizations and individuals working to address homelessness. People who are homeless in Cambridge can complete a C-CAN intake/assessment to join the eligibility pools for housing and other resources.
- Massachusetts Coalition for the HomelessProvides a number of programs to assist those who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Programs include homelessness prevention and housing assistance, case management, housing search assistance landlord tenant mediation services, a furniture bank, clothing, trainings, and more
- Office of Housing StabilityIf you are at immediate risk of becoming homeless, call the City Of Boston Office of Housing Stability for help finding and maintaining stable, safe and affordable housing.
Phone: 617.635.4200
Location:26 Court Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02108
Guide Disclaimer
This Research Guide has been compiled by librarians and library staff at the Boston Public Library from community partners and online sources. Links are verified and fact-checked on a semi-annual basis, however, they may change at any time. Please contact the organizations you are interested in directly to verify that they are the right fit for you or your loved one.
Emergency Shelter Listings
- Boston Public Health Commission- Emergency SheltersIts mission is to coordinate the City's efforts to prevent and end homelessness and hunger through proactive planning, policy analysis, program development and advocacy with our city, state, federal and community partner agencies.
- Department of Neighborhood Development's Services for the HomelessBoston-area listings for emergency shelters, daytime services and meals, outreach services, and resources for special populations
- Massachusetts' Attorney General's Emergency Shelter ListingsIf you are in need of emergency shelter, the Department of Housing and Community Development has homeless coordinators who may be able to help you and your family. You can apply for emergency assistance over the phone or in person.
- Find Emergency Family Shelter in MassachusettsEligibility information, listing of statewide locations, and contact information.
Day and Evening Shelter Listings
If you or a member of your household are in immediate danger due to domestic violence, please call 911.
SafeLink’s state-of-the-art technology allows the advocate answering your call to keep you on the line while you are being connected to a shelter program in your area. This allows callers who are in danger to get help with a single call, rather than having to make numerous calls to different shelter programs across the state.
- Phone: (877) 785-2020
- TTY: (877) 521-2601
To ensure the safety of their residents, most shelters serving survivors of domestic violence do not post their addresses online. Please call a shelter or the SafeLink hotline to find a shelter close by.
- Asian Task Force Against Domestic ViolenceServices: Emergency shelter; primarily serving women but men are sometimes admitted; facility open 24 hours
Capacity: 5 rooms / 20 beds
Languages: Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Shanghainese, Taiwanese, Khmer, Korean, Japanese, Nepali, Hindi, Bangla, Tagalog, Urdu, Thai, Manipuri, Lao, and Mien; staff are prepared and provide services to clients of any Asian speaking or other language
Length of Stay: 90 days with extensions
24-Hour Multilingual Hotline: 617-338-2355
Office Phone: 617-338-2350
Email: info@atask.org
Address: P.O. Box 120108, Boston, MA 02112 - Casa Myrna VazquezServices: Emergency and residential programs, housing assistance and advocacy, financial literacy education and job readiness skill building, individual and group counseling, legal advocacy and representation, children’s services, and community-based advocacy; facility open 24 hours
Capacity: 10 women and 13 children in emergency shelter; 24 women and 35 children in residential programs
Languages: Spanish
Length of Stay: 6 months in emergency program; 12 - 14 months in residential program
Safelink Hotline: 1-877-785-2020
Office Phone: 617-521-0100
TTY: 877-521-2601
Email: info@casamyrna.org
Address: 38 Wareham Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118 - Dove, Inc.Services: Emergency shelter and transitional living for women and women with children; legal and children's advocacy, crisis intervention, on-site Healthcare for the Homeless nurse, dental care, LGBTQ services, facility open 24 hours
Capacity: 6 rooms/18 beds in emergency shelter; 9 rooms in transitional program
Admissions Process: Any referral; women usually come from other emergency shelters
Length of Stay: 1 year
24 Hour Hotline: 617-471-1234 or Toll Free: 1-888-314-DOVE (3683)
Office Phone: 617-471-1234
Address: P.O. Box 690267, Quincy, MA 02269 - Elizabeth Stone HouseServices: Emergency shelter and therapeutic community program for women and children fleeing domestic violence; transition from emergency to temporary housing; facility open 24 hours
Capacity: 2-3 women with children in emergency shelter; 15-16 people in therapeutic community program
Restrictions: Women and children only
Admissions Process: Self referred
Length of Stay: 2 months in emergency shelter; 5 months in community program
Office Phone: 617-427-9801
Address: P.O. Box 300039, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 - FINEX HouseServices: Emergency shelter for women and/or women with children
Capacity: 32 people
Languages: American Sign Language, Spanish, Vietnamese, French, and Haitian Creole
Restrictions: Women and children only
Admissions Process: Self, hospital, shelter, police, social worker, and agency referred
Length of Stay: 1-3 months
Hotline: 617-288-1054
Office Phone: 617-436-2002
Address: P.O. Box 1154, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 - HarborCOVServices: Emergency, transitional and permanent affordable housing with supportive services; case management and group support; safety planning; advocacy; facility open 24 hours; 24-hour hotline
Capacity: 3 single women and 2 women with children
Languages: Spanish
Admissions Process: Any referral
Length of Stay: 2 weeks
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 617-884-9909
Office Phone: 617-884-9799
Email: harborcov@harborcov.org
Address: P.O. Box 505754, Chelsea, MA 02150 - Queen of Peace ShelterServices: Emergency shelter for women and women with children
Capacity: 11 or 12 emergency beds
Restrictions: Restricted to women, girls of all ages and boys under 5 years old
Admissions Process: Self-referred; line up at 4:00 pm. Open from 4:30 pm –9:00 am
Length of Stay: Residents can keep a bed for 3 weeks, but if they miss a night, the bed goes to someone else who needs it
Phone: 617-288-4182
Address: 401 Quinn Street, Dorchester, MA 02125 - Renewal HouseServices: Emergency shelter; safety planning; advocacy; counseling; referrals for job training, legal assistance and educational programs; facility open 24 hours; 24-hour hotline
Capacity: 2 rooms for single women, 3 for women with children
Languages: Spanish
Admissions Process: Self, shelter, social worker, hospital, police, agency referred. Must call ahead.
Length of Stay: 3 months
24-hour confidential hotline: 617.566.6881
Address: 10 Putnam St., Roxbury, MA 02119 - RespondServices: Emergency shelter for individuals and families of all gender identities; Safe Home Program; counseling; assistance with food, clothing, medication, transportation and temporary shelter; children's services; legal support; facility open 24 hours; 24-hour hotline
Capacity: 10-15 beds in emergency shelter; 1 family up to 3 days in Safe Home Program
Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French
Admissions Process: Any referral
Length of Stay: Typically 4 months in emergency shelter
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 617-623-5900 / 1-877-785-2020
Office Phone: 617-625-5996
TTY/TDD: 800-439-2370
Speech to Speech: 866-645-9870
Email: info@respondinc.org
Address: P.O. Box 555, Somerville, MA 02143 - Transition HouseServices: Emergency shelter and long-term housing programs for women and women with children; ADA accessible; clinical support; children's services and play space; facility open 24 hours
Capacity: 9 families
Restrictions: Women and children only
Admissions Process: Referred by self, SafeLink (1-877-785-2020) and other agencies
Length of Stay: 3 months
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 617-661-7203
Office Phone: 617-661-7203
Email: info@transitionhouse.org
Address: P.O. Box 392016, Cambridge, MA 02139
Many (but not all) family shelters require a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development, a government agency that provides affordable housing options, financial assistance, and other support to Massachusetts communities. This list has been compiled by librarians and library staff at the Boston Public Library from community partners and online sources. Links are verified and fact-checked on a semi-annual basis. However, they may change at any time. Please contact the organizations you are interested in directly to verify that they are the right fit for you or your loved one.
The tabbed box includes more detailed information about family shelters in Boston. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list, but you can find more shelters through the Boston Public Health Commission and Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.
- Brookview HouseServices: Transitional living, clinical therapist and referral, community resources, job training, life skills, children's programs, affordable housing; facility open 24 hours
Capacity: 12 families
Restrictions: Women and children only
Admissions Process: Must be eligible for DTA Emergency Assistance
Phone: 617-265-2965
Email: mtompkins@brookviewhouse.org
Address: 2 Brookview Street. Dorchester, MA 02124 - Cambridge YWCA Family ShelterServices: Advocacy, referral, some clothing, counseling; facility open 24 hours
Capacity: 10 families (9 for women and children only; 1 for women, men, and their children)
Languages: Spanish, Haitian Creole, Bengali
Restrictions: 9 units women and children only, boys up to the age of 12 allowed; 1 unit allows women, men, and children
Admissions Process: Must be eligible for DTA Emergency Assistance
Length of Stay: 1 year
Phone: 617-491-6050 X 225
Email: admin@ywcacam.org
Address: 7 Temple Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 - Children’s Services of RoxburyServices: Transitional housing and emergency shelter, community resources; counseling and referrals; some accessible units; facility open 24 hours
Capacity: 21 families
Languages: Spanish, Creole, Portuguese
Restrictions: Families with children
Length of Stay: Variable
Phone: 617.989.1093
Address: 520 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA 02119 - Crossroads Family ShelterServices: weekly visiting nurse, in-house social worker, case management, support services, emergency food assistance, housing search, meals, clothing, play space, workshops; facility open 24 hours
Capacity: 27 families
Admissions Process: Intake process; must call DHCD for referral
Length of Stay: Until permanent housing is secured
Office Phone: 617-567-5926 ext.10
Email: info@ebcrossroads.org
Address: 56 Havre Street, East Boston, MA 02128 - EMPathServices: Emergency housing, transitional housing, supportive housing, housing for those facing domestic violence; advocacy, counseling, 3 meals/day, clothing if available, accessibility, van transportation (to jobs)
Capacity: 58 beds in Brighton shelter for mothers and their children, and women in 3rd trimester of pregnancy; 56 apartments in Boston communities for single or two parent households with children; 34 families (mother and one child under age 6) are housed two-families per unit in the Hosmer co-housing program
Languages: Spanish, Haitian Creole
Admissions Process: Must have a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development or the Department of Transitional Assistance and be eligible for Emergency Assistance
Length of Stay: Typically 8-24 months
Phone: 857-559-2100
Address: 10 Perthshire Road, Brighton, MA 02135 - YMCA Family Housing ProgramsFamily housing programs operated by the Huntington Avenue YMCA and affiliated and funded by either the Department of Transitional Assistance or Boston Housing Authority. Housing programs include Families in Transition (FIT), Huntington House, and the Dennis McLaughlin House.
Contact for FIT and Dennis McLaughlin House:
Email: dtavares@ymcaboston.org
Phone: 617.927.8270
Contact for Huntington House:
Email: HallKeen Management
Phone:617.927.8226 - FamilyAid BostonServices: Emergency and transitional shelter; after-hours services for families who need assistance when state shelter offices are closed; facility open 24 hours
Restrictions: To qualify for emergency shelter, families must be homeless, from Boston, and have children under the age of 18. Families also must be over-income or otherwise ineligible for state-funded Emergency Assistance (EA)
Length of Stay: Variable
Phone: 617-542-7286 ext. 229
Email: info@familyaidboston.org
Address: 3815 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02130 - Heading HomeServices: Emergency and transitional shelter for families and individual men and women; housing assistance; referrals; accessibility; case management
Capacity: 8 shelters serving 47 families total
Restrictions: Dry shelters
Admissions Process: Must have a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development and be eligible for Emergency Assistance.
Phone: 617-864-8140
Email: info@headinghomeinc.org
General Address: The Schrafft Center, 529 Main Street, Suite 100, Charlestown, MA 02129 - Hildebrand Family Self-Help CenterServices: Emergency shelter and transitional support, information and referral, case management, housing search support and stabilization, workshops, children’s programs
Capacity: 126 families in congregate and scattered sites shelter units in Boston and Cambridge
Languages: Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole
Restrictions: Families with children only
Admissions Process: Must be eligible for Emergency Assistance and must be referred by the Department of Housing and Community Development
Length of Stay: 3 months to 1 year
Phone: 617-491-5752
Email: info@hild-selfhelp.org
Address: 614 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139 - Margaret's HouseServices: Transitional housing, advocacy, case management, workshops, counseling, children's programs, on-site health care provided by Boston Health Care for the Homeless, on-site high school equivalency instruction and employment training
Capacity: 32 families
Admissions Process: Families are admitted to Margaret’s House through referrals from the Department of Transitional Assistance
Length of Stay: Typically 9 months
Phone: 617-436-8600
Email: programs@stmaryscenterma.org
Address: 90 Cushing Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02125 - Nazareth ResidenceNazareth Residence provides an opportunity for homeless mothers and their children to begin rebuilding their lives. Families are able to maintain their independence while they transition to permanent housing. The community-like atmosphere, supportive services, and 24-hour staffing create a safe and secure environment.
Phone: 617.464.8500
Email: info@ccab.org - Project HopeServices: Counseling, residents cook their own meals, referrals, clothing if available; handicap accessible; visiting nurse; day program, job training, social supports, and workshops
Capacity: 8 families
Languages: Spanish
Restrictions: Adult men not permitted
Admissions Process: Must have a referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development for Emergency Assistance beds
DHCD Phone: 617-989-6100
Address: 45 Magnolia Street, Dorchester, MA 02125 - Salvation Army SheltersServices: Emergency shelter, counseling, children's programs, workshops, nutrition services, aid to families
- Sojourner HouseSojourner House has provided shelter to hundreds of families and, at full capacity, is able to accommodate up to 9 families. Families are referred to the shelter from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
Phone: 617-442-0590
Address: 85 Rockland Street, Roxbury, MA 02119 - Victory ProgramsServices: Victory Programs operates 17 health and housing programs in Boston, Cambridge and Topsfield, MA
For a complete listing of health and housing programs, visit the VPI website, or contact Tammy Simmons-Dixon, Director of the Victory Housing Division:
Phone: 617-282-4102 x374
Email: tsdixon@vpi.org
This list has been compiled by librarians and library staff at the Boston Public Library from community partners and online sources. Links are verified and fact-checked on a semi-annual basis. However, they may change at any time. Please contact the organizations you are interested in directly to verify that they are the right fit for you or your loved one.
The tabbed box includes more detailed information about shelters in Boston. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list; you can find even more shelters through the Boston Public Health Commission and Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.
- Project Place Housing ProgramsShelters:Betty's Place
Location:1145 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: 617.542.3740
Email:info@projectplace.org - Pine Street Women’s InnServices: Emergency shelter for women; food, clothing, recovery programs, counseling, health care, and housing assistance
Capacity: 120 beds
Restrictions: There is no sobriety requirement for emergency shelter, though substances (alcohol and drugs) are not permitted on the premises. Guests must be adults (ages 18 and up), and able to provide basic self-care.
Admissions Process: Beds are assigned daily using a lottery system. To enter the drawing, please arrive at the Women’s Inn by 3:00 p.m. and speak to the staff at the front desk. Names are drawn for the lottery at 3:30 p.m. A bed is not guaranteed, though staff will work to find options for you.
Phone: 617-892-9100
Email: info@pinestreetinn.org
Address: 363 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118 - Queen of Peace ShelterServices: Emergency shelter for women and children; meals; clothing if available; weekly medical care through Health Care for the Homeless
Capacity: 11 beds
Restrictions: No male children over the age of 3; must not be heavily reliant on medications, drugs, or alcohol; must be in at 4 pm & out by 9 am; must be 21 and older. Closed to admissions on Friday
Admissions Process: Must have a referral from a social service agency
Length of Stay: 3 weeks
Phone: 617-288-4182
Address: 401 Quincy Street, Dorchester, MA 02125 - Rosie’s PlaceServices: Emergency shelter for women; trans women inclusive; advocacy; hot meals; nurses and doctors; guests can stay in their room during the day; use of laundry, phones, computers, lockers, mail services, and other services; facility open 24 hours
Capacity: 20 women
Restrictions: Sobriety, must be 18 or older, 9 pm curfew
Admissions Process: Self referred. Lottery for beds Monday - Friday at 8 am; Saturday, Sunday, Holidays 10 am
Length of Stay: Up to 21 days
Phone: 617-442-9322
Email: info@rosiesplace.org
Address: 889 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118 - Sancta Maria HouseServices: Shelter 7 nights a month; breakfast and snacks, clothing, access to translators, shower, toiletries, laundry
Capacity: 10 women
Restrictions: Sobriety; open 8 am - 7 pm; 10 pm curfew
Admissions Process: Referral from another shelter, social worker, SSA, priest, police officer; call for a bed from 7 am - 8 am
Length of Stay: 7 nights a month
Phone: 617-423-4366
Address: 11 Waltham Street, Boston, MA 02118 - Women’s Lunch PlaceServices: Day shelter for women and children; meals, laundry, showers, phone, mail services; advocacy; on-site medical care 5 days a week; referrals for mental health care and substance abuse services; volunteer attorneys and social workers. A nutritious breakfast is available from 8:00am – 10:00am, and lunch is served at 12:00pm. The Resource Center is open from 8:30am – 1:30pm. Our administrative offices are open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and are located offsite.
Phone: 617.267.0200
Email: info@womenslunchplace.org
Address: 67 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116 - Woods-Mullen ShelterServices: Emergency shelter for women aged 18+; meals; personal care items; clothing when available; Boston Health Care for the Homeless Clinics on-site; mental health care; substance abuse assessment; referrals; lockers; case management; mail services; housing assistance; facility open 24 hours
Capacity: 200 beds; additional overflow beds available in the winter months
Admissions Process: Beds are given on a first-come, first-serve basis
Phone: 617-534-7101
Email: info@bphc.org
Address: 794 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA
This list has been compiled by librarians and library staff at the Boston Public Library from community partners and online sources. Links are verified and fact-checked on a semi-annual basis. However, they may change at any time. Please contact the organizations you are interested in directly to verify that they are the right fit for you or your loved one.
The tabbed box includes more detailed information about shelters in Boston. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list; you can find even more shelters through the Boston Public Health Commission and Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.
- Answer HouseServices: Substance abuse recovery program for adult men; group meetings, individual substance abuse counseling sessions, financial education, life skills training and more.
Capacity: 28 beds
Restrictions: Participants must be adult men (ages 18+)
Admissions Process: Participants are generally referred by an outside service provider (such as a detox program, court or criminal justice program, sober shelter, etc.). All potential clients must complete an intake process by having their service provider contact the program and speak with staff.
Length of Stay: 6 months
Phone: 617.268.7124 to register with intake staff.
Email: answerhouse@MHSAinc.org
Address: 5 G Street, Boston, MA 02127 - Cambridge Multi-Service Center for the HomelessServices: Carey Transitional Housing Program offers case management and rooms for homeless men for a transitional period in partnership with the YMCA
Restrictions: For men with 6+ months sobriety only
Admissions Process: Accepts referrals only through Cambridge CAN. To complete a C-CAN intake, call 617-349-7715 or click here to learn more.
Phone: 617-349-6349
Address: Cambridge YMCA, 820 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 - First Church ShelterServices: Emergency shelter for men; two meals, showers and personal storage facilities; assistance applying for public assistance and securing housing; referrals
Capacity: 14 beds
Restrictions: Guests must be homeless adult (ages 18+) men; must be sober and not a registered offender
Admissions Process: Guests must be referred by another shelter, hospital, Cambridge Multi-Service Center, or a social worker
Length of Stay: Varies
Phone: 617.547.2724
Email: jstewart@firstchurchcambridge.org
Address: 11 Garden St., Cambridge, MA 02138 - Pilgrim ShelterServices: Emergency night shelter for men; intensive rehousing services; food; free van pick-up and drop-off at designated times and locations; specialized healthcare and mental health referrals, veterans’ services and other supports
Capacity: 100+ beds
Restrictions: Guests must be adult men (ages 18+)
Admissions Process: All beds at Pilgrim Shelter operate on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to daily availability. There is no limit to the number of nights clients can stay at Pilgrim (so long as beds continue to be available); however, clients are expected to participate in re-housing activities, with the help of MHSA case managers and/or external partners, while staying at the shelter.
Length of Stay: Call for hours
Phone: 617-825-3300
Address: 540 Columbia Rd., Dorchester, MA 02125 - Pine Street Men's InnServices: Emergency shelter for men; food, shower and laundry facilities, health clinic, case management; assistance securing transitional housing, job training, substance abuse counseling, and other services
Capacity:350+ men
Restrictions: There is no sobriety requirement for emergency shelter, though substances (alcohol and drugs) are not permitted on the premises. Guests must be adults (ages 18 and up), and able to provide basic self-care.
Admissions Process: Men seeking emergency shelter for the first time are encouraged to come to the Men’s Inn, Monday through Saturday, 8 am – 6 pm. During these hours, an intake specialist can meet with you to assess your needs and help you to find the best options for your situation. Staff are available to assist you in securing permanent housing. New guests may come to the Men’s Inn at any time. Please speak to the counselors at the front desk. A bed is not guaranteed, though staff will work to find options for you.
Phone: 617-892-9100
Email: info@pinestreetinn.org
Address: 444 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118 - Salvation Army ShelterServices: Emergency shelter for men; meals, snacks, access to medical care; assistance with employment, finances, legal issues, and housing; can request extended stay and/or be considered for transitional "Umoja" Program
Note: Avoid if LGBTQ+
Restrictions: "Dry" (sober) shelter; guests must be adult (ages 18+) men
Length of Stay: 6 nights; can request extended stay
Admissions Process: Call first thing in the morning (starting at 7 am) to reserve a bed. Arrive before 7 pm to claim a bed.
Phone: 617-547-3400
Email: John.MacEachern@use.salvationarmy.org - Southampton Street ShelterServices: Emergency night shelter for men; food, personal care items, clothing, lockers, on-site Boston Health Care for the Homeless Clinics, counseling, case management, substance abuse assessment and referrals, mail services, housing placement assistance; facility open 24 hours
Capacity: 400 nightly guests
Restrictions: Men only
Admissions Process: Beds are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. Men looking for shelter for the evening should go to Southampton Street Shelter, where they will be searched, screened and given admission.
Phone: 617.534.6100
Email: info@bphc.org
Address: 112 Southampton St, Boston, MA 02118
This list has been compiled by librarians and library staff at the Boston Public Library from community partners and online sources. Links are verified and fact-checked on a semi-annual basis. However, they may change at any time. Please contact the organizations you are interested in directly to verify that they are the right fit for you or your loved one.
The tabbed box includes more detailed information about shelters in Boston. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list; you can find even more shelters through the Boston Public Health Commission and Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.
- Bay Cove Housing & Homeless ServicesShelters:CASPAR FirstStep, Boston Night Center, Cambridge Warming Center, Cardinal Medeiros Center, and several others.
Phone:617.371.3000 - Boston Rescue MissionServices: Emergency shelter for men and women; nightly meal, bathroom and shower facilities, breakfast before departing in the morning; case management; medical care through Health Care for the Homeless
Phone: 617-338-9000
Address: 39 Kingston St, Boston, MA 02111 - Father Bill's PlaceServices: Emergency shelter for men and women; meals, health and mental health services with on-site clinics, shower facilities, basic personal items, job training
Capacity: 30-40 beds for women, 100+ beds for men
Restrictions: Guests must be adults (ages 18+); if staying more than 3 days, must require proof of residence in service area. Father Bill's is a "damp" shelter, meaning that if an individual is under the influence of substances, but is not deemed a risk to themself or to others, that individual is able to stay at the shelter.
Admissions Process: Guests are assigned beds on a first-come, first-serve basis, beginning at 4:30 pm and ending at 6 pm
Phone: 617-770-3314
Email: info@helpfbms.org
Address: 38 Broad Street, Quincy, MA 02169 - Harvard Square Homeless ShelterServices: Dry emergency shelter for men and women
Note: Open evening of November 1st – Morning of April 15th
Capacity: 18 beds for men, 6 for women
Restrictions: Guests with reserved beds must arrive at the shelter by 9 pm unless they have informed shelter staff otherwise, or risk losing their bed. Guests with work-related reasons may come in later than 11 pm upon verification of work.
Admissions Process: Beds assigned on first come, first serve basis by lottery
Length of Stay: Emergency 1-night beds and extended (2-week) beds available
Phone: 617-547-2841
Toll-Free: 1-888-285-4038
Email: hshs.info@gmail.com
Address: 66 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 - Heading HomeServices:Emergency and transitional shelters for families and individual men and women; scattered site apartments; transitional housing; assistance securing permanent housing; case management; accessibility; referrals
Restrictions: Dry shelter
Phone: 617.864.8140
Email: info@headinghomeinc.org
General Address: The Schrafft Center, 529 Main Street, Suite 100, Charlestown, MA 02129 - New England Center and Home for VeteransServices: Emergency shelter and transitional housing for veterans; case management, information, referrals and help with finding employment and housing; facility open 24 hours
Restrictions: NECHV provides services to any Veteran of the United States military regardless of branch, length of service, or other circumstance
Admissions Process: Any Veteran seeking services, please call 617-371-1800 anytime
Phone: 617-371-1800
Email: info@nechv.org
Address: 17 Court Street, Boston MA 02108 - Shattuck ShelterServices: Emergency night shelter for men and women; hot meals, showers, clothing, a clean bed, counseling, nursing staff; assistance with addiction, legal, financial, mental health and physical issues.
Capacity: 120 men and women
Restrictions: There is no sobriety requirement for emergency shelter, though substances (alcohol and drugs) are not permitted on the premises. Guests must be adults (ages 18 and up), and able to provide basic self-care.
Admissions Process: Beds are assigned daily using a lottery system. To enter the drawing, please arrive at the Shattuck Shelter by 3:30 p.m. and speak to the staff at the front desk. Names are drawn for the lottery at 6:00 p.m. in the winter and 7:00 p.m. in the summer. For new guests, a bed is not guaranteed, though staff will work to find options for you.
Phone: 617-892-9719
Email: info@pinestreetinn.org
Address: 170 Morton St, Boston, MA 02130 - St. Francis HouseDay Shelter for men and women. Serves 400 per a day. 7:00 am - 3:00 pm HCH Clinic M-F RN 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Serves breakfast and lunch.
Phone:617-542-4211
Location:39 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 - West End ShelterTel: 617-626-8628
Beds. 40 Men. 20 Women. Until permanent housing found.24 hrs.
Admission M-F prior to 2pm.Nurse.DMH Homeless Outreach (street, shelter, etc.) referred.
This list has been compiled by librarians and library staff at the Boston Public Library from community partners and online sources. Links are verified and fact-checked on a semi-annual basis. However, they may change at any time. Please contact the organizations you are interested in directly to verify that they are the right fit for you or your loved one.
The tabbed box includes more detailed information about shelters in Boston. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list; you can find even more shelters through the Boston Public Health Commission and Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.
- The Home for Little Wanderers –Waltham House271 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
1-888-HOME-321 / 1-888-466-3321 (Toll-free line to the main office)
Waltham House is a residential program accessed through the Department of Children and Families (DCF) system. It is designed to provide a safe and supportive living environment for 12 gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth ages 14 to 18. It offers a safe residence 24 hours per day, where young adults can prepare for family reunification, independent living, and future self-sufficiency. - Boston GLASS (Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services)/Urban Youth Institute at JRI Health75 Amory Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02119
(857) 399.1915 x 2424
mtamanaha@jri.org - The Network/La Red Safehomes for LGBTQIA+ Victims of Domestic AbuseThe safehome program is a free, confidential, short-term (1-5 nights) space provided either by hotels or trained volunteers in their homes for a short amount of time. Having a place to go is the missing piece for many abused lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and/or transgender (LGBQ/T) people who are trying to take their children and pets and leave their abusive partners. Our safe homes are located across the greater Boston area and offer a safe place to get started on the next course of action.
Phone: 617-742-4911(voice)
TTY:617-227-4911
**First we will ask about your immediate safety. Once this has been established, we begin the intake process, which takes approximately 30-45 minutes. - Rosie’s PlaceTrans women inclusive. 22 Beds. Can stay long term. Can keep assigned room. Line up for room 7:00 a.m. First come, first served. 24 hrs. Regis Nurses/ Health Care Without Walls. Self-referred. Four to a room. Curfew 9:00 pm (except for job). Can stay in room during day. Other services available.
Phone: 617.442.9322
Location: 889 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118
For additional resources and information, please link to the Boston Public Library's Libguide, LGBTQ+ Youth & Adult Resources below.
If you're looking for shelter, you may see some of these terms:
Community rooms are shelter spaces for families who are not eligible for Emergency Assistance through the Department of Housing and Community Development. These rooms are not funded by the state government.
Congregate shelters are facilities with common living areas and private sleeping spaces for each family. It is a safe and stable place to call home while families look for permanent housing.
DHCD is the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.
DTA is the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, also known as the welfare department. Click here to find a DTA office near you.
Emergency Assistance (EA) is a state-funded program under the Department of Housing and Community Development that provides shelter, housing search, and housing stabilization resources to families with children under the age of 21 and to pregnant women.
Scattered site shelters are apartment style, temporary housing that give families a safe place to stay while working towards permanent housing. Although they are in independent living conditions and separate from other families, families receive the same case management and support services as those in congregate shelters.
Transitional housing programs offer housing supports to assist people who are ready to move beyond emergency shelter but need additional supportive services to move out of homelessness.
Source: MA Coalition for the Homeless