The mission of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless is to eradicate homelessness through prevention, education and direct service.

Description:
The Coalition maintains the mission of ending homelessness in Massachusetts; however, since it's inception in 1981 the Coalition has continued to expand and look for innovative ways to fight homelessness. Currently the Coalition works through prevention, education, and direct service to ensure that families and individuals obtain and maintain permanent housing.

The Coalition's First Stop Initiative, a homelessness prevention program, works with families at the first sign of a housing crisis to help them prevent becoming homeless. The experienced housing advocates assist those in need within six health centers throughout Massachusetts as well as in the Boston Public and Lynn Public School System. The goal of this program is to reach families and individuals before they enter through the doors of a homeless shelter.

The Coalition is also dedicated to educating clients, citizens, and housing workers to help them advocate for themselves and others on homeless prevention and how to maintain permanent housing. Throughout the year the Coalition holds many education based trainings throughout the state.

Finally, the Coalition provides direct service with those families in need. Through the Furniture Bank, a 40,000 square foot warehouse in Lynn, the Coalition provides thousands of households each year with furniture and household essentials. The Furniture Bank hold drives throughout the year including a toy drive at the holidays, a back to school supply drive in the fall, a linen and blanket drive in the winter, and a book drive in the spring. All of these items are give to families and individuals throughout the state.

History:
Founded in 1981, the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless was the first state-wide advocacy organization for homeless people in the nation. The Coalition traces its beginnings to local grassroots tasks forces, which had grown up around Massachusetts as homelessness was recognized as a complex and widespread problem. Realizing that emergency services alone could not solve homelessness, shelter providers and advocates created the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless to work on broader economic and social factors which affect or cause homelessness.

Since its creation, the Coalition has successfully advocated many policy changes for the benefit of homeless and near homeless individuals and families.

Contact person: Katie Rosengarten, Special Events Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (781) 595-7574

Address:

15 Bubier Street Lynn, MA 01901 (See a map)

Directions:

From Boston, go through the Ted Williams tunnel toward the airport. Stay on Route 1-A. You will come to a sign saying "Entering Lynn". Approximately 3/4 of a mile after the sign, you will see a Dunkin. . . (more)   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Commuter Train from North Station going to Gloucester,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5   Nearest Bus Stop: Bus 441 or 442 from Haymarket Square, 2 minute walk For maps or information, please see http://www.mbta.com