Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless

Please share the flyers in Spanish and Haitian Creole with your network for the action on Monday, September 16th at 4:30 p.m. on the Boston Common at the Embrace Memorial and the 1965 Freedom Plaza to call on Governor Healey and the Legislature to reverse the state’s new Emergency Assistance (EA) and overflow family shelter rules that are leaving many families with children on the streets and in other unsafe situations. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/esAe4k4s #EndHomelessness #RightToShelter #mapoli

We are back next week fighting to protect the right to shelter law: Please join us Monday, September 16th at 4:30 p.m. on the Boston Common at the Embrace Memorial and the 1965 Freedom Plaza to call on Governor Healey and the Legislature to reverse the state’s new Emergency Assistance (EA) and overflow family shelter rules that are leaving many families with children on the streets and in other unsafe situations. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/esAe4k4s We will continue to fight until there are no children sleeping on the streets or in other places not meant for human habitation. Thank you for your continued advocacy and support. #EndHomelessness #RightToShelter #mapoli

Today, alongside families experiencing homelessness, advocates, providers, faith leaders, organizers, and more, we walked the halls of the State House to let Governor Healey and the Legislature know that we will NOT stop showing up against the harmful, cruel policy changes to EA until they are rescinded. Children are sleeping on the streets every night - this is NOT a humane, safe, or equitable policy choice. Reminder: this IS a policy CHOICE. We are (and have been) ready to WORK WITH the Administration on humane, equitable solutions that keep children and families housed, safe, and healthy. Thank you to our community partners who showed up and advocated to protect the right to shelter. We appreciate your time and commitment to families experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts. Stay tuned for our next action. #EndHomelessness #RightToShelter #mapoli

Continue the fight with us this Thursday, September 5th in front of the Governor's Office at 12:30 p.m. to protect the right to shelter for families experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts. Each week, there are more and more children and pregnant people sleeping on the streets of Massachusetts - a direct, unprecedented consequence of Governor Healey's restrictive policy changes to the Emergency Assistance family shelter system. And yes, some families experiencing homelessness have declined the 5 days at a temporary respite site because they are BARRED from emergency shelter for 6 months following that 5-day stay. 5 days is not enough time to find safe, affordable housing in a state experiencing a housing crisis. Protect children. Protect families. Protect the right to shelter. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/esAe4k4s #EndHomelessness #RightToShelter #mapoli

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday and to Marilyn Humphries Photography for capturing these images at the visibility action. We called upon the Healey Administration to uphold the right to shelter for children and families experiencing homelessness in front of the McCormack Building where the state held its Special Commission on Emergency Housing Assistance Programs meeting. Afterwards, some of us went into the meeting to monitor and listen to the conversation. A key piece missing from the commission: the voices and lived experiences of children and families experiencing homelessness. #RightToShelter #EndHomelessness #mapoli

Please join us for the next round of actions to call on Governor Healey and the Legislature to reverse the state's new Emergency Assistance (EA) and overflow family shelter rules that are leaving many families with children on the streets and in other unsafe situations: (1) Monday, August 19th at 12 p.m. in front of the McCormack Building, 1 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108* for a visibility action (*near the Bowdoin Street entrance to the State House) AND/OR Monday, August 19th at 1 p.m., inside the McCormack Building, 1 Ashburton Place, 21st Floor, Boston, MA 02108 to monitor the next meeting of the state's Special Commission on Emergency Housing Assistance Programs (https://lnkd.in/eH7cD-wy) (2) Tuesday, August 20th at 12 p.m. online for a *virtual* action hour Please share this invitation and RSVP form with others: https://lnkd.in/esAe4k4s Thank you. #endhomelessness #mapoli #RightToShelter

Thank you to everyone who showed up and out last night for children and families experiencing homelessness. While we called upon Governor Healey to rescind the cruel policy changes to EA, we spent the majority of the time singing and sharing support for families experiencing homelessness. We see you. We hear you. We support you. And, we will continue to fight for you. And to Governor Healey, we will not stop showing up and holding you accountable until this policy is changed. #EndHomelessness #RightToShelter #mapoli

Building on the rallies and speak outs of the last two weeks, please join us in front of the State House tomorrow, Wednesday, August 14th, 7:00–8:00 p.m. for a candlelight vigil in support of children and families experiencing homelessness. As we gather in solidarity with the families, we call on state officials to rescind the policies and uphold the right to shelter. For more information, head to https://lnkd.in/ekr3JqHb Thank you. #EndHomelessness #mapoli #RightToShelter

Last week, Metro employees hosted A Bed for Every Child Build-A-Bed event at our headquarters in Chelsea. Together we built 15 beds for local children in need - thanks to everyone who joined us! It’s wonderful to see so many of our employees give their time to this important initiative of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. #peoplehelpingpeople #community #givingback #chelseama #creditunion #creditunions #creditunionsrock #credituniondifference

🥦🏠🥑 We love to see it! A whopping 700 patients are receiving #nutrition and #housing services though UMass Memorial Health. 🤝 Kudos for creating such a comprehensive and accessibile Flexible Services Program that has touched so many lives (Elder Services of Worcester Area, Inc., Making Opportunity Count, Open Sky Community Services, Project Bread, About Fresh, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless). An important takeaway from Alison LeBlanc, MS: “When basic food and housing insecurities exist for a person, they can’t focus on their health. As a starting point, we need to make sure people have the right food and enough of it. Then, we can talk about food as medicine and how healthy eating impacts a person’s health.” #sdoh #nutritionsecurity #foodismedicine #hrsn #healthequity #socialcare