MASSACHUSETTS COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS

Mission Statement

The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless was the first advocacy organization in the Commonwealth with a mission dedicated exclusively to ending homelessness.  The Coalition was founded by a group of concerned citizens who recognized that homelessness was a complex and wide-spread problem that was affecting men, women and children across the state. Realizing that emergency services alone could not solve homelessness, the Coalition’s mission is to address the broader factors that contribute to homelessness.  Since our inception in 1981, the Coalition has realized our mission through litigation, legislative advocacy and public policy, public education, and direct services.

Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless:  A Leader with a Proven Track Record

The Coalition’s early intervention and direct service work, along with our commitment to finding long-term solutions to homelessness, have allowed us to develop innovative programming and realistic solutions to ending homelessness. Over the past decade, the Coalition’s approach has increasingly focused on homelessness prevention.  Prevention is cost effective, supports the ability for households to maintain economic stability, and gives children the stability needed to receive a solid education. The Coalition integrates prevention resources at the places where people are already receiving services, thus providing seamless and timely access to prevention resources.   We also run a furniture bank that has helped thousands of households transitioning out of homelessness obtain the essentials they need to make their new house a home. 

The agency has worked to embed homelessness prevention resources in community health centers, public schools, and in our in-home early intervention programs.  The prevention programs have had impressive results with helping at-risk households to retain or secure housing. A pioneer in arena of homelessness prevention, the Coalition is called upon by both state agencies and school districts to share our knowledge and expertise.

The Coalition recognizes the importance of sharing our knowledge and expertise; to that end, we offer comprehensive trainings to providers working with low income households and to lay people who want to do something to help those in need.

Our comprehensive approach allows us to address the root causes of homelessness, while also ensuring that services are provided to those in immediate need.