For more information about local, regional, and statewide efforts to address the issue of homelessness, contact the agencies listed alphabetically below.

Waltham and Surrounding Cities

City of Waltham Housing Division
http://waltham.ma.us/Housing
The City of Waltham Housing Division’s mission is to improve the City’s housing stock through rehabilitation and to develop and implement programs to increase access to affordable housing for Waltham residents. The office will provide support to non-profits in developing and managing affordable housing and will work with State and Federal governments to secure additional resources for housing programs. The office will act as a referral service on housing issues for its constituents.

Community Day Center of Waltham
http://www.communitydaycenter.org
34 Alder Street, Waltham, MA 02453-0504
(781) 893-4666‎
The CDC is open to homeless and low-income members of this community and everyone in need in the Massachusetts Metro-West area. The CDC provides a welcoming and nurturing shelter during the weekday afternoon hours when there is no alternative place to go. Available are computers, telephones, fax, and volunteers (speaking English and Spanish) to help with issues of health, housing, and other legal issues.

Greater Waltham ARC
http://www.gwarc.org
781-899-1344     E-mail: gwarc@gwarc.org
GWARC's mission is to serve people in the community with developmental disabilities and their families, utilizing a person-centered, whole life planning approach. We provide quality, flexible programs and services which maximize independence, foster inclusion and build community connections. GWARC's programs are based upon self-determination, sound teaching practices and the latest technology.

Middlesex Human Service Agency, Inc.
http://www.mhsainc.org
50 Prospect Street, Waltham, MA 02453
General Information E-mail lauriel@mhsainc.org
The mission of MHSA is to improve the quality of life and independent functioning of a wide variety of clients through the delivery of an extensive system of community-based substance abuse and social service programs. Offerings include a family shelter, a men’s shelter, a women’s shelter, and a soup kitchen (contact information is on their website).

REACH
PO Box 540024, Waltham, MA 02454; (781) 891-0724 x100; fax: (781) 891-3861
http://www.reachma.org/
REACH is committed to advancing the safety, healing, and empowerment of those who experience domestic or relationship violence, through direct services and education while promoting social justice for individuals and families of all backgrounds. REACH operates a shelter in Waltham where individuals and families may stay up to 3 months. This nine-bed home provides safe refuge in a confidential location for all survivors of domestic violence. Housing, welfare, employment and children's and parent's advocacy services are also provided by REACH's staff to shelter guests.

Salvation Army: Waltham Corps Community Center
www.salvationarmy.org
33 Myrtle Street, Waltham, MA 02453-0557
(781) 894-0413      Fax: (781) 893-1903
Contact:  Captains Johnson & Claudia Germain (Johnson.Germain@use.SalvationArmy.org)
Worship services (Sun 11am), Sunday School, other religious services; H.O.P.E. Kitchen (M-F 10am – noon), Community Food Pantry  (Fri), emergency assistance counseling (housing, clothing, food, heat, etc.), and children’s programs.

The Second Step
http://www.thesecondstep.org
P.O. Box 600213, Newtonville, MA 02460
The Second Step partners with adult and child survivors of domestic violence to enhance supportive community and identify pathways to physical and emotional healing, housing, and financial security.

Waltham Housing Authority
110 Pond Street, Waltham, MA 02451   (781) 894-3357   fax: (781) 894-7595
The Waltham Housing Authority is responsible for 810 units of public housing for families and seniors in Waltham. Housing is typically federally-subsidized. WHA coordinates Section 8 housing as well as rehabilitation loans.

WATCH Community Development Corporation
http://watchcdc.org
WATCH is the only organization in Waltham that develops affordable housing as part of a new collaborative entity focused on affordable housing development in Waltham, Watertown, Belmont and Lexington. WATCH works towards a more just community in the Waltham area by creating and promoting affordable housing, providing adult education and leadership development, and empowering underrepresented residents through civic engagement.

Regional and Statewide

Advocacy Network to End Family Homelessness
474 Centre Street, Newton, MA 02458; (617) 244-3650 fax: (617) 630-9172 info@coopmet.org
www.coopmet.org/./AdvocacyNetworkEndFamilyHomelessnessHome.htm
A program of Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries (CMM), the Advocacy Network to End Family Homelessness was formed in response to the worsening housing and homelessness crisis in Massachusetts. The Network is committed to eliminating the root causes of family homelessness through public education and advocacy. Based in Concord and Acton, the Network also includes participants from Sudbury, Carlisle, Lincoln, Stow and Bedford. The Network is a model for other areas and welcomes inquiries and members from all locales.

Citizens' Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA)
http://www.chapa.org
18 Tremont Street, Suite 401, Boston, MA 02108   (617) 742-0820  fax: (617) 742-3953
CHAPA's core activities span four main areas - Housing Advocacy, Research, Community Education and Training, and Coalition Building. CHAPA's mission is to encourage the production and preservation of housing that is affordable to low-income families and individuals. CHAPA pursues its goals through advocacy with local, state and federal officials; research on affordable-housing issues; education and training for organizations and individuals; and coalition- and consensus-building among broad interests in the field.

Homes for Families
http://www.homesforfamilies.org
Homes for Families is committed to ending family homelessness. We are guided by parent and provider perspectives and take a holistic approach in leveraging policy change. HFF mobilizes its partners to participate in creating and advocating for public policies to end family homelessness. Programs include: Advocacy, Community Organizing, and Leadership Development. Each has a vital role in our ability to forge consensus and promote action

HomeStart Inc.
http://www.homestartinc.org
105 Chauncy Street, Suite 502, Boston, MA 02111   (617) 542.0338  fax: (617) 542-1454
HomeStart is a non-profit organization whose mission is to end homelessness in Greater Boston by assisting individuals in obtaining permanent housing and settling into the community, and by developing strategies to address systemic barriers to housing placement.

Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless (MCH)
http://www.mahomeless.org
(781) 595-7570
Created by an association of grassroots organizations in 1981, MCH is the country's oldest statewide homeless advocacy organization and works to address the broad economic and social issues that lead to homelessness.

Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA)
http://www.mhsa.net (many good data resources here)
(617).367-6447      Fax: 617.367.5709      E-mail: cgolden@mhsa.net
MHSA is a non-profit public policy advocacy organization that serves as a leading voice in the Commonwealth calling for an end to homelessness. MHSA initiates solutions to move people out of crisis to permanence throughout Massachusetts, including the Home & Healthy for Good program, which provides permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals.

MassHousing
https://www.masshousing.com
Created by legislation, MassHousing promotes affordable homeownership and rental housing opportunities across Massachusetts. Programs include access to homebuyer tax credits, loans to rental owners, Section 8 Voucher handling, a mental health set-aside program, and intermediary services between landlords and tenants in areas of disability, mental health, and transitional assistance. Many educational materials are available on the website.

Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership
http://www.mbhp.org
(617) 859-0400
Helps individuals and families to find and retain affordable housing. MBHP is the state’s largest regional provider of rental voucher assistance, serving homeless, elderly, disabled, and low- and moderate-income residents of Boston and 29 surrounding communities.

One Family Inc.
http://www.onefamilyinc.org
One Family was incorporated in 2003 with a mission to end family homelessness in Massachusetts. This mission supports a central belief that no parent and child should be homeless in this state. One Family works as a means for change by collaborating, planning and implementing innovative programs that reverse the widespread and chronic effects of poverty and strengthen lower-income families headed by single mothers. One Family also brings together broad coalitions to support policies that get homeless families out of shelter and into homes.