Boston

Boston Announces Plans to Redesign City's Emergency Shelter System

Boston officials have announced a plan to redesign the city's emergency shelter system to help those struggling with homelessness and are asking for feedback from organizations.

Data gathered in an 18-month pilot program at four of the city's largest adult shelters indicated that some individuals using the shelters would be better served by other programs offering different services, such as family mediation, inpatient treatment or nursing home care, according to city officials on Friday.

The goal of the redesign is to have a shelter system that's only used by those who need it, and to provide support to those who would go to a shelter because of minimal discharge support from hospital, psychiatric facilities and jails.

Mayor Marty Walsh said in a statement that while there has been progress made in helping to end chronic and veteran homelessness, there is still more work to be done.

"Modernizing our shelter system will make sure that if a person becomes homeless, they are assessed and quickly connected with the right services to help them get back on their feet," he said.

The announcement comes on the heels of Walsh's recent inaugural address, when he promised $10 million to build a program called Boston's Way Home Fund, which will then be used to create 200 new units for sustainable and long-term housing for the homeless.

If your organization is interested in responding to the proposal, click here.

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