BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced nearly $13 million in supplemental grant funding to expand shelter and warming center capacity for individuals experiencing homelessness across Massachusetts this winter.
Annually, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities supports 2,514 year-round beds and 363 winter beds for individuals experiencing homelessness. This supplemental grant funding will support an additional 1,575 winter shelter beds and 214 overnight warming center slots through partnerships with municipalities and community-based providers. The additional capacity will ensure that more individuals have access to safe, warm spaces this winter.
“No one should have to face the coldest months of the year without a safe place to stay,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Juana Matias. “This additional funding will help our partners expand shelter capacity and deliver essential, often lifesaving services. The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to working alongside communities and providers across Massachusetts to help people experiencing homelessness stay safe this winter.”
The grants were awarded to cost-effective, coordinated proposals aligned with HLC’s goal of making homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring and priority was given to applicants serving regions with the highest need for shelter beds. 30 programs were selected for funding, including eight new awardees that expand regional coverage and add more dedicated capacity for women and unaccompanied homeless youth.
Fiscal 2027 breakdown of winter capacity
| Region | Already Existing Capacity | Capacity Added Through These Awards | Total Surge Capacity | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Season Shelter | Partial Season Shelter | Full Season Warming | Partial Season Warming | Weather Emergency Capacity | |||
| Central | 276 | 128 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 499 |
| Eastern | 1384 | 326 | 95 | 0 | 65 | 0 | 1870 |
| Northeastern | 286 | 70 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 36 | 452 |
| Southern | 517 | 200 | 80 | 0 | 0 | 105 | 902 |
| Western | 437 | 131 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 664 |
| Total | 2900 | 855 | 235 | 60 | 65 | 272 | 4387 |
Full Season – November 15 – April 30
Partial Season: Fewer nights than full season, but not weather contingent
Weather Emergency: Only operates in inclement weather
According to MassLive, the list of awardees is:
Women’s Lunch Place
Baycove
Blackstone Valley Emergency Shelter (first-time awardee)
Boston Public Health Commission
Cities of Chelsea and Revere
City of Fall River
City of Greenfield (first-time awardee)
City of Somerville
Clinical Support Options
Community Counseling of Bristol County (first-time awardee)
Craigs Doors
Duffy
Father Bills & Mainspring
Home for Little Wanderers
Lazarus House (first-time awardee)
Lifebridge
Louison House
Lynn Shelter Association
Malden Warming Center
Middlesex Human Services (first-time awardee)
Pine Street Inn
Saint Francis House (A first time awardee)
Saint Johns of Northampton (first-time awardee)
Samaritan Inn
Servicenet
Somerville Homeless Coalition (first-time awardee)
South Middlesex Opportunity Council – Worcester
Stepping Stone
United Way of NorthCentral Mass
Urban Impact
