Housing Resource Services (HRS) provides elderly individuals and families at risk of homelessness and/or eviction with housing information, advocacy, search and placement. This includes conducting the housing application process, obtaining pertinent documents, meeting with property managers, and attending court proceedings. The program locates the best housing that fits the needs of each client and places them throughout Boston’s neighborhoods. We also provide our clients with referrals to protective services agencies, elder services agencies, shelters, information on personal finance classes, Welfare assistance, food stamps, and other sources of financial assistance.
HRS has developed a successful, efficient network of referrals from organizations that supply housing and organizations that are seeking housing for their clients. Of the 196 HRS clients we worked with between July 2006 and June 2007, 23% obtained housing for themselves and their families, 5% received legal representation, and 4% received emergency financial assistance from Nuestra Comunidad.
These statistics demonstrate strong success, particularly considering the very long waiting lists for affordable housing units in Boston. We nearly doubled our goal of serving at least 100 clients over the past year. The 44 housing placements we generated exceeded our goal of 30 placements by nearly 50%. We continue to work with those clients who have not yet resolved their housing situations, assisting them in finding housing, legal representation, or financial assistance.
