SSN to End Homelessness

The Patrick-Murray Administration awarded $837,913 in April 2009 for an 18-month grant and bridge funding of $100,000 in December of 2010 to the South Shore Regional Network to End Homelessness (SSN). It is one of ten regional networks funded through the state’s Interagency Council on Housing & Homelessness (ICHH) for ambitious plans to restructure support systems that serve homeless people. Pilot initiatives in Brockton, Plymouth and Quincy will test new models to prevent homelessness by keeping families in housing and to rapidly re-house homeless families who enter the shelter system. Homeless single adults will be immediately assessed for housing and support services upon their entry into shelter. Inappropriate discharges of individuals to shelters from state systems of care will also be addressed.

The South Shore Network continues to work for systems reforms that include: better regional planning to address homelessness and to shelter people locally, faster movement from shelter to housing, and better homelessness prevention. The end results should mean more resources for housing used flexibly and effectively with fewer people becoming homeless.

United Way of Greater Plymouth County is the fiscal conduit and convener of the South Shore Network and made pilot grants to serve families to Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc. (BAMSI) for Brockton, Quincy Community Action Programs, Inc. (QCAP) for Quincy and South Shore Community Action Council, Inc. for Plymouth. Father Bills & MainSpring received pilot funds to assist homeless single adults across the region. A Leadership Council of representatives from many sectors monitors the progress of the pilot initiatives and of the system reforms.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lora Wooster

Coordinator – South Shore Network to End Homelessness
lwooster@uwgpc.org
508-583-6306 x108