Host Family Program Summary

  • Overview and Purpose

    The Host Family Program, coordinated by IFSI and supported by the Massachusetts Office for

    Refugees and Immigrants (ORI), provides short-term housing for newly arrived and unhoused

    families who are awaiting eligibility determination for the state’s Emergency Assistance (EA)

    shelter system. This initiative offers a compassionate, community-based response to an urgent

    housing gap created by recent policy changes that require full eligibility verification before

    families can access shelter.

  • The Need

    New changes to the Massachusetts EA program eliminated presumptive eligibility for shelter

    placement, meaning that families must now complete all documentation and verification before

    receiving any state-provided housing. This process can take days or weeks, leaving many

    families, particularly newly arrived immigrants, without a safe place to stay during the review

    period. The Host Family Program fills this critical gap by offering a temporary, secure, and

    welcoming environment for these families.

  • Who the Families Are

    Most families supported through the program have recently arrived from Haiti, Venezuela,

    Nicaragua, Colombia, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic. Many are fleeing violence, poverty,

    political instability, or natural disasters, and arrive in Massachusetts without family connections

    or local support networks. The program provides not only physical safety but also a first sense of

    belonging and dignity in a new country.

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Services and Support Provided

The Host Family Program ensures families are connected to essential resources and services

while awaiting shelter placement, including:

 Safe temporary housing in caring, volunteer host homes.

 Transportation to and from host residences provided by the IFSI Family Welcome Center

via Uber.

 Assistance accessing benefits such as SNAP, TAFDC, and MassHealth.

 Language and communication support, with guidance on using translation tools for

Haitian Creole, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

 Ongoing case management and contact from IFSI staff for both hosts and guest families.

 Transition assistance to permanent or shelter housing once EA eligibility is confirmed.

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Role of Host Families

Host families volunteer their homes and hospitality, offering guest families a place to rest, prepare meals, and regain stability. They are expected to create a respectful, safe, and welcoming space, providing access to essentials such kitchen and bathroom facilities, while respecting the guests’ privacy and autonomy. Hosts are not usually financially responsible for their guests’ expenses, and families typically have access to public benefits to cover their needs.

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Program Coordination and Contact

For more information or to participate

IFSI Contact
karl@ifsi-usa.org

(857) 351- 4181

ORI Program Manager
Abigail Pierre-Charles: abigail.c.pierrecharles@mass.gov (857) 283-1831

Emergency Support (After Hours)
ORI Duty Manager: (857) 303-2543