"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members." – Coretta Scott King
March 27, 2020

Greetings!

During these unprecedented times, the Coalition remains steadfast in our commitment to addressing the needs of people experiencing homelessness, housing instability, and poverty in Massachusetts. As the Commonwealth and the world grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working each day to ensure that people experiencing homelessness are not forgotten as prevention, response, and relief efforts are undertaken. We know that these are our neighbors who are being, and will continue to be, disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

Since the crisis started, the Coalition's team has been inundated with phone calls from agencies and individuals seeking assistance.
 
We are gearing up for what could be an avalanche of families, individuals, and youth that will be at risk of becoming homeless. Our services will be needed more than ever before. I am writing today to ask for your support in helping the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless to be able to meet the need today and after the crisis.
 
Funds raised with your support will help the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless to continue our important work through the HomeLink Initiative , providing housing and benefits advocacy in collaboration with community health centers, public schools, and other partners; A Bed for Every Child Initiative , providing free beds and bedding to children living in poverty throughout Massachusetts ; our statewide public policy advocacy ; and other programs. You can read more below about our current efforts in response to heightened needs in the face of the coronavirus.
 
Coretta Scott King was right that the greatness of our community is most accurately measured by compassionate actions. With your support, we can remain here to help.
 
To make a donation online, please visit our COVID-19 donation page . If you would like to send your donation in the mail, our address can be found below.

Thank you for considering our request, and for your collaboration.
 
Sincerely,
 
Robyn Frost
Executive Director
Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless
73 Buffum Street
Lynn, MA 01902

The Coalition's COVID-19 Efforts with and for People Experiencing Homelessness, Housing Instability, and Poverty

Today, we are asking for your ongoing support so we can continue to:

  • Provide direct advocacy and referrals to families, individuals, and unaccompanied youth devastated by the pandemic, assisting households access rental assistance, food assistance, unemployment benefits, etc.
  • Share timely information through our website, social media channels, and email lists on access to resources, best practices, news stories, and advocacy opportunities
  • Lead and participate in statewide and national working groups to ensure that the needs of people experiencing homelessness are raised and central in all relevant conversations
  • Coordinate press coverage with our media partners to highlight the extreme risks for people experiencing homelessness, including the unique challenges for individuals and families who are staying in shelters, places not meant for human habitation, and overcrowded double-up situations. (See our "In the News" section here.)
  • Reach out to our allies and partners with lived experience of homelessness to understand the unmet needs and recommendations of both people and organizations, including shelters, mutual aid groups, wraparound service programs, health care programs, etc.
  • Convene coalition members virtually to provide education and develop public policy responses to the pandemic, including recommendations on expanding access to homelessness prevention resources; creating safe places for people to isolate, quarantine, and practice physical and social distancing; imposing moratoriums on evictions, foreclosures, and terminations of public benefits during the state of emergency; and providing additional cash resources to cash assistance program participants and low-wage workers
  • Serve as a resource to state officials looking to better serve families and individuals who are without permanent housing
  • Continue our outreach efforts to ensure that youth, families, and adults experiencing homelessness are counted in the 2020 U.S. Census, which will have deep impacts on funding allocations and representation for the next decade. With shelters identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as key locations to interview and count people experiencing homelessness, and with fewer people experiencing homelessness feeling safe staying in tight quarters during the pandemic, we will work with our federal, state, and community partners to do our best to ensure a complete count. We will increase outreach to promote responding to the census online and telephonically.

With your support , we will be able to continue to develop and promote swift, comprehensive, and compassionate responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you!