Medway House Emergency Family Shelter
17 Holliston Street, Medway

 508-533-1487

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Medway House is an emergency shelter for homeless families in Massachusetts.  It is one of many family shelters that exist in Massachusetts to provide safe, temporary homes for families while they search for permanent housing.

The goal of Medway House  is to help each and every family secure a home of their own, a safe, affordable, and stable place to live.  The program endeavors to encourage families to build upon their existing strengths and resources, and to build and utilize support networks in their communities.

Medway House has a capacity to house 11 families.  Families may be two-parent households or single moms or dads.

Families each have one bedroom and share common spaces in the house, such as the bathroom, kitchen, dining and living rooms.  Food is provided, and residents prepare community meals.

Families who are experiencing substance abuse problems or who may be fleeing from domestic violence are referred to other shelters that specialize in providing services to those populations.

All families are referred to Medway House by the Department of Transitional Assistance, and must meet financial and other eligibility requirements.

There are no strict time frames for shelter stay.  As long as families are following shelter rules and remain financially eligible, they stay until they are able to obtain safe, affordable housing.

Services: The shelter is staffed 24 hours per day, and each family meets weekly with a case manager and a housing advocate.

The following services are provided:

- information & referral to local programs and services

- educational and career counseling; budgeting education

- individual and family counseling;

- parent support groups;

-housing advocacy;

- tenancy education;

- transportation;

- children’s recreational activities.

Finding housing:  Each family meets weekly with a housing advocate, who assists them in locating affordable housing.  Families apply for public housing and housing subsidies through housing authorities and agencies.  Once they have a subsidy they must then locate an apartment in the community that will accept their subsidy.

Funding:  Medway House is funded by the Department of Transitional Assistance.  Medway House is a component of South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Framingham (SMOC). 

SMOC is a private, non-profit organization that provides services for disadvantaged individuals and families through advocacy, social services, and community development activities.

Volunteers and donations: Medway House has several volunteers from the community who offer their time on a weekly or as needed basis.  Some volunteers work directly with residents and some provide services within the house.  Donations of food, household, and personal care items are always welcome.  Monetary donations are also very helpful.  The donations are either used at Medway House or given to a family who is moving out into their own apartment.