Global Issue, Local Solutions Thanks to You

October 10th is World Homeless Day, drawing attention to the plight of people experiencing homeless and celebrating the champions who are responding to that crisis.

Here in Greater Boston, more than 1,800 volunteers, donors, foundations, corporations and public agencies have worked with FamilyAid in the last year to improve the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors.  Together we have:

• Served 3,000 homeless children and parents—double the number served two years ago.
• Sheltered 500 homeless children and parents with no other place else to stay.
• Secured safe, stable housing for 1,200 children and parents
• Delivered 580,000 pounds of essential food and supplies door-to-door.
• Provided $1.1 million in direct financial assistance to help families pay for food, utilities, and other basic needs.
• Launched a $500,000 incentive program to encourage landlords to rent to working families.
• Opened a new, safe refuge program for families sheltering in Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center emergency rooms.
• Delivered comfort and joy to 1,9800 children with holiday meals and gifts, summer music concerts, music and dance lessons, camp scholarships, and weekly ice-cream truck visits.
• Launched a research partnership with Boston College, Boston Public Schools, and the United Way to evaluate and ultimately replicate our prevention programs across the region.

But more must be done. We are now expanding our prevention work to keep a growing number of struggling families from falling into homelessness and help those experiencing homelessness get back on their feet by supporting their educational, financial and housing goals.

Together with supporters like you, we are ending homelessness for hundreds of families, and providing children with the added supports they need to have a brighter future.