City Mission Society funds for rent and deposits for Homelessness Prevention.
Many agencies and charities in the Boston area work with City Mission Society (CMS) to help stop homelessness. There may be assistance and services available for both tenants and homeowners in the region.
Women with children, including single moms, may receive assistance from Lift Up. This is mostly for younger women or even teenagers that are faced with losing their home or apartment. Some of what may be provided includes emergency financial aid for a partial rent or housing payment. This is very limited, and applicants need to go through intake and assessment.
Other services may be job or educational skills training to help families maintain their housing or referrals to other benefits. The goal of Lift Up is to get the women out of poverty and help them find long term stability.
The process may go on for multiple years. Throughout the program, individualized service plans and goals will need to be adhered too. There may also be case management services as well as advocacy. While one on one sessions are offered, there may also be workshops and resource groups coordinated, and this also touches upon different topics. Over the years, Lift Up has been successful at reducing unemployment of females in the Suffolk County region.
Non-profit agencies operate ENN, or the Emergency Needs Network. This is for the lowest income and families that are truly struggling. In some cases, there may be emergency financial or rental assistance to moderate- and low-income families. This is provided in order to help them prevent homelessness and maintain stable housing over the long term.
This is a community wide effort to tackle the housing challenges in the Boston area. The Emergency Needs Network is made up of groups including Project Hope, Women’s Lunch Place, The Tenancy Preservation Project, Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership, Crittenton Women's Union, Greater Boston Legal Services, HomeStart, Martha Eliot Health Center, Travelers’ Aide, and Span, Inc.
Referrals and information is widely available. As not everyone will qualify for one time rent help or a grant, a referral may help fill that gap. There are other local charities or government resources that that address the housing situation. So low income families can get help and support identifying resources and services which will provide long-range financial assistance or in some cases a loan at zero percent interest.
Case managers from City Mission Society and ENN inform client’s people about other financial aid. This may include fuel assistance, Mass Health benefits, emergency money for security deposits, housing resources, SSI applications, food stamps and more. Other self-sufficiency resources available by referrals can include job search programs, vocational counseling, child-care and other resources which enhance their lives. Having a stable employment situation can go a long way towards preventing a cycle of homelessness.
Unfortunately, all too many children in Boston may also be homeless with their parents. So they may lack access to any holiday or Christmas gifts or toys. The City Mission Society Christmas Shop may be able to assist. It brings joy and hope to families and children in need of uplifting during the holiday season. It is a resource that is available regardless of faith, religion, or background.
CMS and its partners receive toys, games, gift items, or meals. All of these are donated from people in the community, and the agency collects and sorts them for the less fortunate. Children, both infants and teens, may not have a Christmas at all were in not for the generosity of people and businesses in the community. So because of these donations, they can get free toys and presents. Please donate to the shop if you can.
The location of City Mission Society is 14 Beacon Street, Suite 203, Boston, Massachusetts 02108. Telephone 617.742.6830.
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