SharingWeb

SharingWeb
Food, shelter, and crisis resources on Boston's South Shore

"The good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those
inner qualities that make all men human and, therefore, brothers."   - Martin Luther King Jr.

What's New:

Brown Univ. Seeks Sexual Assault Coordinator

The Brown University Health Services Dept. is seeking a Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Program Coordinator to work in the Office of Health Education. This is a permanent 11-month position (one month off in the summer).
The Coordinator conducts education and outreach programs, provides support to students and advocates for improved systems and responses related to the issue of sexual violence. See details.

Hopeful News from Plymouth County Homeless Survey

The January 30th canvass of Brocton and Plymouth's homeless population suggests there may be 50% fewer homeless people in the county. Read more.

Massachusetts Homelessness Facts:

Families:

The number of homeless families seeking assistance from the Mass. Dept. of Transitional Assistance increased by 17% in FY 2007.

In 2000 there were over 10,500 families, including more than 20,000 children, that were homeless in Massachusetts. ¹ This represented a 100% increase since 1990.   The number today is considered to be much higher still.

In October 2006, more than 1,400 families were staying in the state’s emergency shelter system each night. This included nearly 3,000 children --- half of whom were school age and half of whom were preschoolers. ²   This number represents only a fraction of homeless families, most of whom are denied shelter due to limited space or because they cannot meet eligibility requirements.

52% of people who are homeless in Massachusetts during a year are actually parents and children --much higher than the national average. ²

Veterans:

Of the homeless in Massachusetts, over 1,700 are veterans. An additional 11,920 are facing a severe housing cost burden. ³

1 UMass Boston, McCormack Institute. (2000). Situation Critical, Report 2000: Meeting the Housing Needs of Lower Income Massachusetts Residents.
2 Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless
3 Department of Veterans Affairs and US Census Bureau data as analyzed by the National Alliance to End Homelessness