Assisting Families Experiencing Homelessness: Emergency Assistance Shelter and Benefits -- BBT Training
Materials from the September 23, 2025 Emergency Assistance Shelter and Benefits training, presented as part of the MLRI/MCLE Basic Benefits Training Series.
Training Materials
- Slides: Emergency Assistance Basic Benefits Training 2025
- FY25 RAFT Admin Plan
- HomeBASE Admin Plans FY25
- Criminal Offender Record Information Policy for the Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Program
- Request for Reasonable Accommodation: Emergency Assistance (“EA”) Program
- Administrative Plan on the Uses of Strategic Prevention Initiative (SPI) and Enhanced Diversion (ED) Funding
- Administrative Plan on the Uses of Strategic Rehousing Initiative (SRI) Funding
Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Emergency Assistance (EA) and HomeBASE information
- Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Resources and Data: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/emergency-assistance-ea-family-shelter-resources-and-data
- Includes:
- Emergency Assistance Regulations, Statutes and Notices
- Emergency Assistance Placement Data
- Quarterly Emergency Assistance Legislative Reports
- Emergency Assistance Uniform Shelter Program Rules, Guidelines and Forms
- Memorandum Of Understanding between DCF and DHCD regarding family reunification in shelter
- Language Assistance for Staff
- Includes:
- Rapid Shelter Track https://www.mass.gov/info-details/what-is-the-rapid-shelter-track-emergency-assistance-ea-family-shelter
Bridge Shelter Track https://www.mass.gov/info-details/what-is-the-bridge-shelter-track-emergency-assistance-ea-family-shelter
Bridge Shelter Track Length of Stay Policy information https://www.mass.gov/info-details/emergency-assistance-ea-family-shelter-length-of-stay-policy
EA Shelter Contact List https://www.mass.gov/info-details/whats-next-after-becoming-ea-eligible-the-contact-list-and-more
How to Apply for Emergency Family Shelter: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-emergency-family-shelter-ea
Housing Stabilization Notices: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/housing-stabilization-notices
HomeBASE Information: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/homebase
Legislative Reports
Legislative Reports on shelter usage: https://www.mahomeless.org/biweekly-ea-reports
Other housing assistance
Information about rent, utility and mortgage assistance: https://www.mass.gov/applying-for-rental-assistance-in-massachusetts-to-avoid-eviction
Information about RAFT, Residential Assistance for Families in Transition: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/residential-assistance-for-families-in-transition-raft-program
RAFT application portal: https://applyhousinghelp.mass.gov/s/?language=en_US&LanguageCode=en_US
How to apply for RAFT: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/how-to-apply-for-raft
Town-by-town search for local Regional Administering Agencies (RAAs) and local Area Median Incomes (AMI): https://hedfuel.azurewebsites.net/raa.aspx
EA Shelter and RAFT Application portal: https://applyhousinghelp.mass.gov/s/?language=en_US&LanguageCode=en_US
CHAMP Application for state subsidized housing: https://publichousingapplication.ocd.state.ma.us/
Housing Navigator Massachusetts: https://housingnavigatorma.org/