If you qualify for EA shelter, EOHLC can place you in:

• A shelter with other families (congregate shelter)
• An apartment (scattered site shelter)
• An apartment with another family (co-housing scattered site shelter)
• A substance use shelter if you or another adult in the family have a substance use problem,
• A young parents living program if you are a teen parent or a pregnant teen under age 22, receive TAFDC benefits, and space is available, or
• Another EOHLC-approved temporary shelter, such as a motel. If you are placed in a motel, EOHLC should transfer you to a family shelter as soon as space is available. 760 CMR 67.06(3).
   

In certain circumstances, EOHLC may choose to place an adult child (21 or older) or a second parent in a separate shelter, including a shelter for single adults. 760 CMR 67.07(3)(b)2.

If you are placed in EA shelter, EOHLC must place you in a shelter within 20 miles of your home community if there are any openings in the area that can accommodate your family. However, there often are no openings within 20 miles and you could be placed very far away. If you are placed more than 20 miles from your home community, EOHLC is required to transfer you to a shelter placement within 20 miles of your home community as soon as there is an opening, unless you do not want to move back. 760 CMR 67.06(3)(c) and (e).

You can appeal a shelter placement more than 20 miles from your home community, but you should go to the placement while the appeal is in process or you may be terminated for not accepting a placement. Issues such as type of shelter, location within 20 miles of the home community or the type of EA shelter placement provided are not appealable. 760 CMR 67.09(2)(b)2 and 67.09(2)(c).

EOHLC can transfer you from one shelter to another shelter if it thinks it would be “efficient” to transfer you. 760 CMR 67.06(4)(c).
 

Advocacy Tips:

• Even if you think you have a good reason for refusing a shelter placement that is offered to you (either as a first placement or as a transfer), you should accept the placement if possible and then appeal the placement. If not, you may be terminated and barred from receiving further help. See Questions 10 and 17.
• EOHLC is supposed to make every effort to ensure that children placed in EA shelter can continue going to school in their home communities. 760 CMR 67.06(3)(d). If you are in EA shelter and want to be placed where your children can continue going to school in their home community, make a written request to your EOHLC worker. You may also contact the school’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison, or contact the Homeless Education State Coordinator at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
• EOHLC must consider disability-related reasons why you need to be placed near your home community, or why you need a particular type of shelter or housing. For example, if you or a family member uses a wheelchair, you should be placed in a wheelchair-accessible unit. If a family member has mental health problems and needs privacy, you should be placed somewhere that provides more privacy. Tell your EOHLC worker that you need a “reasonable accommodation.” See Questions 18 and 19 for more information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or contact an advocate.
• EOHLC should place you in an area that does not cause you to lose your job. Tell EOHLC if you think an offered placement would interfere with your keeping a job. If possible, make a written request explaining the reasons to EOHLC. Shelter placements are made by EOHLC Central Staff; you can contact Contracting and Performance Manager Barbara Duffy at [email protected].