HomeStart

CONTACT:

105 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 542-0338
www.homestart.org

Linda B. Wood-Boyle, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

HomeStart (Cat. '00) began in 1994, to fill what was then a gap in services for the homeless by focusing on helping them — one-by-one — find long-term housing solutions, rather than temporary shelter. Finding, securing, and maintaining housing can be very difficult in any case, but for the homeless it is much harder — many have low incomes, health problems and physical disabilities, limited literacy, and low self-confidence. Homeless shelters are temporary; the staffs generally have their hands full with day-to-day operations, and no extra time for one-on-one guidance in public housing application processes, finding private apartments, rooming houses, publicly subsidized housing or other possibilities, negotiating with landlords, organizing moves, or following-up with home visits to problem-solve and provide other supports. HS established a vacancy clearinghouse to locate housing options, and to help match those with homeless people.

They created follow-through support — weekly visits, liaison with landlords, help with budgeting, developing good tenancy skills, referrals to community services, intervention and referral for substance abuse and other health issues, and encouragement to get involved in community organizations and volunteer opportunities. HS also created a special fund to help pay move-in expenses — first month's rent, security deposits, moving costs, and rental stipends for up to one year. HS has also secured special federally-funded housing vouchers for homeless people with disabilities, for their use in the private rental market.

Since its founding, HomeStart has become Greater Boston's leading provider of long-term housing services for homeless people, placing about 200 homeless adults annually, over 2,100 to date, with more than 80% retention after two years. Their staff has increased from 5 to 23. Other cities and agencies have begun to request materials and seek ways to emulate this success, with HomeStart opening a satellite office in Cambridge that now has a staff of 30.

In 2002, it began a Homelessness Prevention Program that helps families and individuals to retain their housing, with the goal of stemming the flow of people into shelters.

Here is a strong growth opportunity addressing a strategic issue. You can be the catalyst.

(2001: HUMAN SERVICES: Well-Being)