SPECIALIZED INTENSIVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES (SIPS)
Specialized Intensive Programs & Services start with a comprehensive assessment of need and continue with supports that range from assistance with navigating service systems to gaining access to mental health, medical and/or substance use resources. It also incorporates practical hands-on help with daily living, as well as financial and legal advocacy. The intensive, personalized, and at-home focus is pivotal in engaging clients and stabilizing them in their homes and communities.
In FY22:
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130 families & individuals served
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1,543 contacts conducted
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85% of households stabilized or placed in new housing
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86% of participants reported increased knowledge of eviction prevention, housing search strategies, financial assistance, or other support systems
By the Numbers
Program Statistics and Outcomes
FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) is a voluntary program designed to help families achieve increased economic self-sufficiency over a five-year period. It is jointly managed by Metro Housing and Compass Working Capital.
In FY22, FSS DISTRIBUTED:
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$475,493 in escrow savings to 47 participants
TOTAL DISBURSEMENT:
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$25,000 in incentives for purchasing a home
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$11,186 in interim assistance for credit repairs, purchase a new car or provide MBTA transportation for job searches
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$439,307 in rewards to participants who successfully completed or made significant progress in their goals at the end of their contract period
LEASED HOUSING
Rental assistance programs help make rent affordable by subsidizing a portion of a household’s rent with the household paying the remainder, called their “rent share.” Metro Housing administers a number of rental assistance programs under contract with various government agencies. The HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM, commonly known as Section 8, is a federally funded program for assisting very low-income families, elders, and people with disabilities to afford decent and safe housing. The MASSACHUSETTS RENTAL VOUCHER PROGRAM is a similar program funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In FY22:
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11,703 households received rental assistance through Metro Housing, which included:
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7,497 federal vouchers via the federally funded Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
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3,131 state vouchers via the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)
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1,075 CoC vouchers via the Continuum of Care Program (CoC)
COLOCATIONS
Metro Housing partners with local organizations and uses their expertise to supply vital housing support services to residents who have low and moderate incomes. Through these collaborations with community organizations, residents access multiple services convenient to where they live, in familiar locations that are physically and culturally accessible. The colocation sites are possible in part through the generous support of Bank of America.
In FY22:
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9 Colocation sites
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975 households served
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89% of participants reported an increased knowledge of eviction prevention, housing search strategies, financial assistance, or other support systems
RAFT+
The state-funded RAFT program is a homelessness prevention program for households with very low incomes experiencing a housing crisis. Traditionally, eligible households applied for up to $4,000 in emergency assistance over 12 months to retain existing housing, obtain new housing, or otherwise avoid becoming homeless. With the pandemic, RAFT funding was supplemented with two other emergency housing payment assistance programs - ERMA (Emergency Rent and Mortgage Assistance) and ERAP (Emergency Rent Assistance Program) – as well as multiple municipality-specific options.
In FY22:
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$162,226,265 total funds distributed
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$9,346 average benefit
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18,317 families and individuals supported
HOMEBASE
HomeBASE is a program of the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development designed to reduce the need for motels and shelters. The goal is to assist families who are facing homelessness to find alternative solutions to entering shelter and/or motels.
In FY22, METRO HOUSING PROVIDED:
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279 families with
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12 months of stabilization services to ease their transition to permanent housing
HOUSING HUB
The Housing Hub, known as the Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC) is Metro Housing’s primary resource for families seeking assistance in navigating the affordable housing system. It is one of nine HCECs located throughout the state and is free and open to the public. The Housing Hub educates and assists tenants and property owners and responds to constituent issues reported by elected officials. The Housing Hub provides workshops and trainings for tenants and service providers on topics such as affordable housing basics, financial literacy, and housing search strategies.
In FY22, METRO HOUSING'S HOUSING HUB SERVED:
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19,995 unique households and conducted
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49,294 counseling sessions
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92% participants reported an increased knowledge of eviction prevention, housing search strategies, financial assistance, or other support systems
FAIR HOUSING
Metro Housing has committed to equal opportunity and access to housing for all by incorporating fair housing principles into its services. We provide trainings to tenants, service providers, and property owners regarding their rights and responsibilities under the federal Fair Housing Act of 1988 and the state fair housing law. Staff members also provide technical assistance on fair housing and refer clients to other related services in Greater Boston.
In FY22, METRO HOUSING'S FAIR HOUSING PROJECT SERVED:
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251 participants
AND RESPONDED TO:
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151 Requests for Reasonable Accommodations
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100 Advocacy Cases
FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY
In FY22:
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51 families participated in the program
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$27,000 disbursed from rent escrow
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$9,016 disbursed from savings escrow
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$34,674 disbursed from budget supports
ACO (ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATION) FLEX SERVICES
Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) are provider led health plans that hold participating providers financially accountable for both cost and quality of care for members.
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Metro Housing’s ACO Flex Services provide high-touch, wraparound case management services to Greater Boston’s most vulnerable residents, with no time-based limitations on program participation. The program works from a commitment to “Housing First,” a strategy that recognizes housing stability as a necessary platform from which to build better health, financial stability, and overall well-being.
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Our case managers counter the isolation, loneliness, and despair that characterize many of our participants’ lives with compassion, respect, and a participant-centered approach to providing services.
In FY22:
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886 families and individuals served