Submitted by Ed Yost, member of the ANEFH Steering Committee
At the Annual Family Homelessness Forum, more than 125 attendees learned that it truly “takes a village” to assist homeless families in transition to more stable housing.
Every night about 3,100 families seek homeless shelters and 1,850 additional families continue to stay in motels with great risk to their children’s health and development, according to state Department of Housing and Community Development data.
A local group, Advocacy Network to End Family Homelessness (ANEFH), presented their 11th Annual Forum on Family Homelessness on Sunday Mar 1, 2:30 – 4:30 PM at First Parish in Bedford. Local advocates, organizations and state legislators described innovative programs to assist homeless families, including training to obtain and maintain employment, volunteer-led community services, and efforts to promote self-sufficiency.
In the Bedford MA community, the Bedford Housing Task Force was formed in 2011 by community volunteer leaders and local congregations. The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) began placing homeless families in the Bedford Plaza Motel in Spring 2011. The number of families rose to a maximum of 88 in August 2013. DHCD agreed the cap should be 28 families so as families left to permanent housing they were not replaced. The current number of homeless families in the motel is currently 22-25.
The Bedford Housing Task Force soon expanded to include school and police representatives, and multiple organizations that support homeless families. Sue Baldaulf spoke about the Task Force’s efforts to “respond to homeless family needs and broaden access to local, state, and federal resources.” She described a goal to support families in developing self-sufficiency by listening to their needs, being encouraging and respectful, and not overcompensating with help.
For example, Baldaulf explained that many homeless families lack transportation. The group organizes volunteers to take turns driving homeless families to doctor appointments and to Market Basket for family food shopping. Another local organization, Community Cooks, provides a weekly hot meal for families. Minuteman Early Intervention works with families on early childhood learning needs. Youth and Family Services provides counseling as needed.
Ann Guay from the Bedford Housing Task Force described the strategy of coordinating “wrap around services,” such as working with Bedford schools to identify children’s needs and connecting with Horizons for Homeless Children PlaySpace for child activities. She told stories of volunteers working with Sr. Linda Bessom of Mass Coalition for the Homeless to deliver 90 school backpacks in time for first day of school. Volunteers also collected and distributed Halloween costumes for children.
Exa Mendez, a community organizer and legislative advocate from Mass Coalition for the Homeless, provided a profile of homeless families but stated that “each family has its own voice and story to share.” She outlined that between July 2013 and Jun 2014, 607 families with children stayed overnight in unsafe places before becoming eligible for the state’s Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter program. Another nearly 2,000 homeless families stayed in shelter overflow motels across Massachusetts. Many are turned away because they lack verification or cannot prove they have stayed in a place not meant for human habitation, as the current guidelines require.
Mendez stated that the homeless families stay an average of 8 months in shelters but some stay up to 2 years. She outlined exit strategies through the state funding in HomeBASE, Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), public housing, and units from private developers. She said that additional funding is need to meet the needs of a growing number of homeless families, along with resources for subsidized childcare, job training, education resources, and transportation. She encouraged attendees to learn more about the homeless family crisis, join advocacy organizations and contact their legislators for support in increasing funding for programs to meet homeless family needs.
Sher Omerovic, from Jewish Vocational Services, described the Secure Jobs Program which provides job training and support services in partnership with Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership. The program has three distinct tracks to help heads of families to obtain jobs when emerging from shelters or motels. The first track is for the employment-ready persons who need job search and interview support. The second track is for preparing clients to overcome employment barriers and work on job-readiness training in a novel five week program. The third track involves offsite vocational training and includes books, license exam and licensing funding, which result in certification for employment. The program provides all needed support services, including childcare resources, financial literacy classes, computer skills classes, and post-employment consulting.
Jessica Cohen and Connie Martin from Secure Jobs Program, Community Teamwork, Inc., Greater Lowell, discussed common barriers to family homelessness and programs to eliminate barriers. They discussed barriers such as unstable housing and lack of childcare, mental and general healthcare, transportation, basic education, peer networks and time management skills. Their program aims to connect local, state and federal assistance to eliminate the barriers.
As at previous annual forums, local legislators attended to learn more and discuss related legislative action and their perspectives on addressing family homelessness. Attending this year’s forum were Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton), Sen. Michael Barrett (D-Lexington), Rep. Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington), and Rep. Ken Gordon (D-Bedford).
Sen. Eldridge outlined a new zoning reform bill to allow building multi-family housing on single family one-acre lots. Additionally, he cited Housing Bill HR3173 that would provide assistance to towns for building more affordable housing units.
Sen. Barrett urged support of the Homeless Person Bill of Rights, which would help homeless people gain a fresh start. He also encouraged the state to increase the supply of housing to drive down rental prices.
Rep. Kaufman promoted support of a constitutional amendment for a graduated income tax, which he predicts will be a ballot question in the 2018 election.
Rep. Gordon encouraged increases in funding of workforce development programs and MRVP. He also urged passing of the Earned Sick Time Bill to continue securing employment in workplaces when sickness disrupts employment. Gordon supports minimum wage increase to assist workers in affording rents and maintaining housing stability.
For more information on ANEFH and homeless family advocacy efforts, see www.endfamilyhomelessness.net
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