Brockton Coalition for the Homeless

CONTACT:

54 North Main Street
Brockton, MA 02301-3907
508-587-5441
mainspring.org

Dennis P. Carman, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

The Brockton Coalition for the Homeless (BCH) has recently shifted gears. It was founded in 1982 by a group of citizens concerned about homelessness in and around Brockton, and since then it has provided emergency support -- basically food, shelter, and caring. It has moved to a more holistic model by adding "transitional services:" substance abuse counseling, adult education and literacy training, life skills classes, and housing search, to help people climb out of their predicaments. Now it serves over 144 people daily, in two facilities: MainSpring House for individuals, and Conway House (in Middleboro) for families. Work Express (est.1997) offers able homeless valuable work experience in a supportive environment; it has grown from 8 to 20 participants who work four hours every morning on basic cleaning, maintenance and landscaping activities in downtown Brockton; afternoons and evenings, participants have adult education and life skills classes, as well as individual counseling. This is a first-rate agency that you can help make a difference.

(1999: HUMAN SERVICES: Well-Being)