Hearth’s Outreach Program seeks to reach individuals aged 50 or older who are currently living on Boston’s streets, in homeless shelters or who are at risk of homelessness.

Developing affordable service enriched senior housing can take years, so to end elder homelessness, we provide Outreach services. Outreach case managers work directly with local community shelters, hospitals, and other homeless agencies to identify homeless older adults aged 50+ in need of housing search services, as well as those at risk of homelessness who need prevention services. Case managers provide direct assistance to identify and obtain safe, affordable housing and facilitate access to physical health, mental health, financial, legal, and other critical social services. For older adults on the verge of becoming homeless, Prevention case managers offer landlord mediation, money management, and shallow subsidies to prevent eviction.

Case Management for Currently Homeless Individuals

Before, during, and after placement, Hearth Outreach Case Managers help to ensure that their elderly clients are able to maintain long-term housing by:

• providing direct assistance to identify and obtain safe, affordable housing;

• facilitating access to

  • physical health,

  • mental health,

  • financial,

  • legal,

  • and other critical social services;

• stabilizing them within their homes;

• and helping them build social and community networks.

Prevention for Those At-Risk of Homelessness

Clients who are eligible for Hearth Prevention Services are individuals over the age of 50, in the Greater Boston area, and are facing homelessness. These individuals do not meet the current definition of homelessness and will likely be in one or more of the following situations:

• “Doubled-up” in housing that cannot accommodate them

• Leaving institutions with no housing in place

• Tenants facing eviction

• Individuals facing foreclosure

• Low income individuals in financial crisis