Shelter and Stabilization Project FAQ

What is the project?

HEI’s shelter and stabilization project connects newly arrived migrant families in Massachusetts with the services and resources they need to rebuild their lives after fleeing extreme violence.

HEI currently operates two emergency shelters in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, where we care for dozens of families. The majority of our clients are from Haiti but we are also caring for families from other countries impacted by severe, life-threatening conflict.

Our core services include providing safe emergency shelter for migrant families; enrolling children in school; facilitating work authorization and helping adults find stable employment; linking families to health services; helping families transition to safe and stable housing; and offering education to help families independently address their day-to-day needs, such as grocery shopping, banking, and traveling via public transportation. We expect these services to grow and evolve along with the project, to ensure we are meeting our clients’ needs.

Why is the project necessary?

According to the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, the number of migrants served by the state of Massachusetts has grown by more than 1,042% over the past two years, from 1,018 in 2021 to 11,633 in 2023.

Massachusetts is the only state in the United States with a “right to shelter” law that guarantees unhoused families (families with children and/or pregnant women) access to temporary housing and emergency services, as well as assistance with transitioning to permanent housing. This law, combined with humanitarian parole programs and other legislation, has led many migrants to seek shelter and safety in Massachusetts. 

The increase in unhoused migrant families in Massachusetts has overwhelmed state-run shelters and emergency service providers. HEI is proud to partner with the state to help meet the demand and ensure these highly vulnerable families can access the resources they need to build dignified, stable, and independent lives.

Why is HEI taking on this project?

HEI was founded on the belief that all people deserve to be well. Throughout our 40-year history, our core mission has been to care for others with dignity, compassion, and the deepest respect for their humanity and personhood. Our shelter and stabilization project is an important, necessary, and natural extension of our core beliefs and our mission. We are proud to be expanding our service area and helping to care for more people in more places through partnership, accompaniment, and community.

Why is HEI qualified to do this work?

HEI has a proven record in successfully managing day-to-day operations and logistics at a facility serving vulnerable populations. We run a 200-bed hospital with a 24/7 emergency department, surgical center, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and more. We are also well-versed in all aspects of property management, sourcing supplies, and coordinating with vendors.  Finally, we are proud to have strong partners with regional housing knowledge and to be building self-sufficiency among refugee populations supporting this project.

HEI is committed to providing safe shelter and support services to people of all backgrounds. However, given the significant and ongoing influx of Haitian families requesting shelter in Massachusetts, HEI/SBH can provide knowledge on the language, culture, beliefs, and needs of Haitian migrants; connect with other organizations serving the Haitian population; and tap into our established network of Haitian Americans living in the Commonwealth.  

Will HEI provide shelter and stabilization services in other states?

We do not currently have plans to expand our shelter and stabilization services outside of Massachusetts.

How will this project affect HEI’s work in Haiti?

The shelter and stabilization project will not affect our ongoing work at St. Boniface Hospital nor our broader health system strengthening work in southern Haiti. HEI’s operations in Haiti remain our core work, and that is not changing.

Where are the shelters? 

The shelters are in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. For security reasons, we cannot provide the exact location of the shelters at this time.

I know someone who needs shelter. How can I connect them to HEI?

Thank you for helping to ensure this vulnerable family receives the support they need. All families seeking emergency shelter must apply for emergency family shelter through the State of Massachusetts’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. Please visit the Emergency Family Shelter web page for more information on how the program works, eligibility, and how to apply.

Will there be opportunities to volunteer?

We expect to have opportunities to volunteer with our shelter and stabilization project in the future and are currently in the process of creating a formalized volunteer program. We will make an announcement once we complete this process and are ready to launch the program. Sign up for our mailing list for updates and to be the first to know about volunteer opportunities once they are available.

Can I make an in-kind donation of goods?

We expect to have opportunities for supporters to make in-kind donations of goods in the future. We are currently in the process of creating a formalized in-kind donation program. We will make an announcement once we complete this process and are ready to launch the program. Sign up for our mailing list for updates and to be the first to know about in-kind donation opportunities once they are available.

We want to hear from you!

Please reach out by emailing info@haitihealth.org if you have questions about this project, our ongoing work in Haiti, or anything else. We’d love to hear from you! 

Thank you for your support thus far, and we look forward to continuing this important work together.