Housing Help and Resources

If you are in need of affordable or emergency housing in the Greater Boston area, this list of resources can help you locate the assistance you need.

Housing counseling

At  South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation (South Boston NDC), we provide housing search assistance, counseling, and resource navigation to help South Boston seniors ages 62+, whose housing is at risk. We work one-on-one with individuals to explore resources that help stabilize existing housing, find affordable housing options, understand tenant rights, and navigate barriers. We also offer counseling via phone and email for residents of any age, helping them understand available housing resources and how to access them.

To access these services or join our waiting list, please contact our office at (617) 268-9610 or visit the SBNDC Contact Page.

Common places to start

Commonwealth of Massachusetts social services helpline: Call 211.

Executive Office of Housing and Livable Conditions:

City of Boston’s Office of Housing Stability:

The following organizations list resources on their websites:

The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless lists shelters on its website. It has information about diversion programs, tenants’ rights, emergency shelter resources, and assistance programs. See https://www.mahomeless.org/get-help. 

The EOHLC Resource Locator provides lists of shelters, fuel assistance, heating services, and legal assistance by town. Website: https://hedfuel.azurewebsites.net/

Finding affordable homes

There are several affordable housing search options, each with unique characteristics. Listings may not appear on all search sites. Finding housing may require multiple searches, phone calls, and applications submitted using the provider’s preferred method as there is no single access point.

SBNDC’s Housing Search Flyer includes information about types of housing, how and where to search, voucher programs, and sources of affordable family and senior housing in South Boston (including links to sites and contact information).

Elder services

The City of Boston’s Age Strong Commission provides social, recreational, and support services. Advocates to assist with difficulties can be reached by calling (617) 635-4366 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by email to agestrong@boston.gov.

The Boston Elder Care Alliance operates a service referral line for their member organizations, Boston Senior Home Care, Central Boston Elder Services, and Ethos. To get information or services, call (617) 292-6211, email bei@bshcinfo.org, or use their website (https://elderinfo.org/ECA.aspx). Services include referrals for in-home services like Personal Care Attendants and Homemakers, Transportation, Laundry, Caregiver Support, LGBTQ Aging, Meals/Nutrition, Money Management, Protective Services, and Health Insurance.

The South Boston Neighborhood House Senior Center offers senior programming including exercise, education, recreation, information, assistance, and referrals. Contact them at (617) 268-1619. Their schedule of activities can be found on their website (https://sbnh.org/senior-services).

Information about other services such as activities, caregiver support, financial management, food and nutrition resources, health resources, in-home services, and transportation options can be found in our Elder Services flyer.

Tenant rights and evictions

In Massachusetts, it is illegal for a landlord, on his or her own, to remove tenants and occupants and their belongings from a rented apartment, room, or home without first getting a court order. The court case that a landlord files to get a court order is called summary process (the legal term for an eviction). The court order that allows a landlord to evict a tenant is called an execution. Even after a landlord gets an execution, only a sheriff or constable can move a tenant and his or her belongings out of the property. Mass.gov

For live legal assistance, try:

At risk of losing housing

The City of Boston’s Office of Housing Stability assists people at risk of homelessness, and helps tenants find emergency resources.

ABCDHousing helps residents of Boston, Malden, Medford, or Everett with housing assistance and stabilization, including rental assistance. 

RAFT (Rental Assistance for Families in Transition) provides short-term assistance to help prevent housing loss, including rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and other emergencies. 

Foreclosure

The Boston Home Center offers financial help for first-time homebuyers in the City of Boston, foreclosure counseling, and other assistance. 

RAFT  provides short-term assistance to help avoid housing loss, including assistance with mortgage payments. 

Experiencing homelessness

If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness in the City of Boston, call 211 and the Office of Housing Stability.

For housing issues in Massachusetts, call the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Conditions:

The City of Boston provides a list of services for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness, including the following: Overnight Shelters, Daytime Services including meals, Family, Outreach, Housing, Veterans’ Services, Youth and Young Adults, and Other Services like assistance with domestic abuse, housing stability, and case management. 

ABCDConnect helps find urgent services such as food, clothing, heating assistance, housing services, and elder services. 

The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health has vouchers and some reserved housing units. A psychologist, physician, social worker, or other provider can refer you.

HomeBASE offers comprehensive assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness, encompassing search services, placement support, case management, and stabilization efforts. Additionally, HomeBASE can provide financial aid, including assistance with first and last month’s rent and a deposit, as well as up to two years of rent assistance. 

Hearth at Home addresses homelessness and the risk of homelessness. They have some dedicated housing units. 

In addition to their homeless shelter and advocacy services, St. Francis House has 102 units, including Single Room Occupancy (SRO), studio, and one-bedroom units, primarily for rehousing.

Haley House has SRO housing reserved for individuals in shelters or in transitional housing. The Boston Housing Authority manages Haley House's housing.  

Commonwealth Land Trust provides supportive housing services and case management. They have housing in various locations. On Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, they conduct intake sessions for housing searches and referrals. 

Caritas Communities operates over a thousand SRO units and provides priority placement to documented victims of domestic violence. 

Food, utilities, clothing, and other services

South Boston NDC’s Food, Utilities, Other Services flyer