Parent Page: Homelessness Prevention

HomeBASE

HomeBASE is a program of the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) designed to reduce the need for motels and shelters. The goal is to assist families who are facing homelessness to find alternative solutions to entering shelter and/or motels. Additionally, it seeks to reduce the number of families already in shelters and motels by providing financial assistance, resources, and services to quickly re-house these families.

Metro Housing|Boston is one of 11 statewide agencies contracted by DHCD to administer this program and we are responsible for administering HomeBASE in 29 communities, including Boston. Metro Housing works in partnership with the three Transitional Assistance Offices (TAO) in our region to determine alternative housing options for families eligible for EA shelter, and provides housing search assistance for EA families placed in all motel shelters in our region

Eligibility

To be considered for HomeBASE a family must be determined eligible for Emergency Assistance (EA) by a DHCD Homeless Coordinator. Eligibility requires that a participant have an annual household income at or below 115% of the federal poverty level and a child under 21. In addition, the family must be homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, and meet criteria regarding the cause of homelessness (see EA regulations).

Services and Benefits

HomeBASE services include assessment, housing search, placement, and case management and stabilization services. Families who applied for assistance and were found eligible as well as families who were placed in emergency shelters or motels (and are in EA compliance) are eligible for a re-housing benefit of up to $10,000. This benefit may be used in any combination to address a variety of needs including:

  • First/last month’s rent, and security deposit.
  • Rent and/or utility arrearage.
  • Short-term monthly rental payment.
  • Moving expenses to another state or to another location in Massachusetts.
  • Basic furniture needs such as a mattress, box spring, frame, kitchen table/chairs, and refrigerator.

To learn more about HomeBASE, visit mass.gov or contact HomeBASE at homebase@MetroHousingBoston.org.

Communities we serve

Metro Housing|Boston serves individuals and families, as well property owners, in 30 communities throughout Greater Boston.

  • Arlington
  • Bedford
  • Belmont
  • Boston
  • Braintree
  • Brookline
  • Burlington
  • Cambridge
  • Chelsea
  • Everett
  • Lexington
  • Lynn*
  • Malden
  • Medford
  • Melrose
  • Milton
  • Newton
  • North Reading
  • Quincy
  • Reading
  • Revere
  • Somerville
  • Stoneham
  • Wakefield
  • Waltham
  • Watertown
  • Wilmington
  • Winchester
  • Winthrop
  • Woburn

*Metro Housing|Boston does not administer RAFT, Voucher Programs, or HomeBASE assistance in Lynn. See Lynn Housing Authority.
*In addition to the 30 communities listed above, Metro Housing|Boston administers rental voucher programs in Holbrook, Randolph, and Weymouth. If you are specifically seeking RAFT assistance in those communities,
you must apply instead to Housing Solutions. (http://housingsolutionssema.org).

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