Emergency Shelter

We provide emergency assistance shelter for 360+ families each night, including more than 500 children, most of whom are cared for by a single mom.

Families in need of shelter are referred to Heading Home through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (formerly known as DHCD).

When a family enters a Heading Home program, they are assigned a case manager who conducts a thorough intake assessment, addresses immediate needs, and orients the family to the assigned program. Together, the case manager and client establish an individualized action plan with short- and long-term goals focused on securing housing independence.

After moving into permanent housing, Heading Home families remain engaged in our case management services for two years to support self-sufficiency and provide scaffolding to avoid a family re-entering the shelter system. For 20+ years, Heading Home’s retention rates have been 90%+.