Ending Homelessness, One Person at a Time

Because the root causes of homelessness may vary widely from person to person, only through an individualized and comprehensive approach to programs and services can broken lives be mended and transformed.

At the Boston Rescue Mission, our programs offer clients a wide range of resources to guide a person from a place of need to a place of self-sufficiency. These resources include:

Emergency Overnight Shelter Beds

Our year-round Emergency Shelter program hosts people who don't have a place to sleep. Participants who arrive in the evening may or may not be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, but always are screened for the safety of themselves and others. Participants receive a nightly meal, bathroom and shower facilities, and breakfast before departing in the morning. Members are assigned to a case manager depending on the individual's needs to address their specific recovery issues.

Sober Beds and Supporting Services

Substance dependence is a common contributing cause to homelessness. Our "dry" sober beds provide a drug and alcohol-free environment in which individuals can address their substance use and dependence issues. A major goal of the program is to build program members’ self-esteem and equip them with the tools and skills they need to achieve permanent self-sufficiency.

Rapid Rehousing & Stabilization Program

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2018 report on homelessness showed Massachusetts with a 14% increase, the highest in the country. We experienced this increased need at the Mission, especially among women. For many of our guests, the disease of substance use disorder goes hand-in-hand with homelessness. Staff understand that after months or years of experiencing homelessness, unemployment, isolation, and estrangement from family and friends, the appropriate next step is transitional housing and treatment.

Working one on one in a confidential and trauma-informed manner, the client prioritizes their goals with a case manager and steps to achieve them. This may involve reunification with family, inpatient treatment, private/public housing, transitional housing, sober living programs, vocational training and employment. For some individuals, moving to a sober house or long-term recovery program is optimal. Individuals identified as “chronically” homeless and on the City of Boston’s Chronic Housing List are eligible for private housing vouchers, subsidized or public housing. Staff may facilitate an immediate referral to partner agencies to expedite the process.

The Mission will continue to provide financial support to clients for travel expenses, security deposits, first month’s rent, and assistance with furniture and movers. Staying true to our mission of transforming lives, clients are offered a range of services and care that are most effective and successful in fostering meaningful, sustainable life changes.