Safe Havens use a "Housing First" supportive housing model to provide an alternative to shelter placement. The program is designed to serve hard-to-reach individuals who are chronically unhoused and often have disabling mental health and substance use conditions.
Safe Havens in Massachusetts
Saving lives and ending homelessness
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Safe Haven programs provide private rooms, bedding, meals, and hygiene products. Other services provided include:
- help in securing benefits;
- assistance completing housing applications and creating a housing plan;
- self help groups, medication management, and linkages to appropriate mental health and substance use programs;
- social supports and community re-entry skills; and
- crisis intervention services (as needed).
The average length of stay for individuals in Safe Havens is two years or less.
Who do Safe Haven programs serve?
Safe Havens serve a population that is chronically homeless, often with significant behavioral health conditions. They're among the highest users of emergency departments, hospital beds and emergency medical services, and have high rates of involvement with police and the justice system. Many have not been well served by the shelter system, due to past histories of trauma and safety concerns.
Safe Havens provide a location to transition these individuals from the streets, continue engagement, and facilitate access to services - all in a safe, non-threatening environment.
What is the need?
There are currently 14 Safe Haven programs across the Commonwealth, with capacity to serve 113 people. Unfortunately, need is outpacing the growth of Safe Havens.
In 2022, there were 1,504 chronically homeless individuals without children living in shelters or transitional housing in Massachusetts (HUD 2022 Continuum of Care Report). The coronavirus pandemic has since exacerbated the needs of many vulnerable populations. Expanding Safe Haven programs is vital to serve chronically homeless individuals and offer them a pathway to supportive housing and treatment. While the Department of Mental Health (DMH) is committed to expanding these programs statewide, more funding is needed to achieve regional equity and meet need.
Is it effective?
A 2020 study commissioned by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation found that those enrolled in permanent supportive housing programs in the Commonwealth have significantly lower total per-person per-year MassHealth costs compared to a similar group of chronically homeless individuals. The study also suggests that the preventive effect of permanent supportive housing may lead to a reduction in overall health care utilization and costs.
Take Action!
It's imperative to expand the availability and capacity of Safe Haven programs to provide more options for chronically homeless people.
A 7-bed Safe Haven program has a cost of $500,000 annually. Please join us in urging the Legislature to increase funding in the FY24 state budget for the Safe Haven program by $3 million to improve outcomes for people with mental health conditions who are chronically homeless.
Use the following materials to help spread the word and advocate for more Safe Haven funding: