Hastings House

Located at 10 Perthshire Road in Brighton, Hastings House assists homeless families to secure and maintain permanent housing. The housing search component is combined with case management, clinical and mental health services, career development assistance, a wellness and fitness program, family literacy, medical services through a homeless healthcare provider, volunteer playgroup services, and transportation aid.

The congregate housing program, initiated at Crittenton Women's Union in 2001, is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The HUD-funded housing provides services to families who are not eligible for DTA's emergency assistance program; generally, these are working poor families whose incomes do not meet DTA's eligibility requirements. HUD families are referred to the Hastings House program through a variety of referral agencies, including, schools, hospitals and self-referrals. When the program began in 2001, it served 23 families. Since that time, the number has almost tripled to 62 families.

This program is unique compared to other shelter programs because it incorporates an intense self-sufficiency policy that encourages families to participate in activities that will put them on the path to economic independence. The program also uses a holistic approach in providing services to the families with a goal to reach the entire family.

Goals of the housing program are to:

• Assist participants in obtaining and remaining in permanent housing;
• Assist participants in increasing their job skills and/or income;
• Assist participants in achieving greater self-sufficiency in meeting their own basic needs and those of their children;
• Develop and maintain an individual service plan for each family.

Expected outcomes are measured against the following indicators of success:

• 90% of residents will work with housing search provider to seek and obtain housing;
• 90% will develop a budget and long-term plan for housing management;
• 90% of residents will exhibit progress on their service plan, including enrollment in education or job skills training programs;
• 100% of children will be enrolled in a public school or early education, if appropriate; and
• 90% of residents will access community resources, as outlined in their service plans.

Due to the short supply of affordable housing and federal funding cuts for subsidized rent vouchers, a family's stay in a transitional program can be as long as two years. While this extended timeline is not ideal, it does afford families the opportunity to attain the skills they need to become self-sufficient.