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Remember moving into your first apartment or home? The excitement of finally having a space to call your own? And all the household items you needed to get set up in your new place?
You can help people who've spent years living on our streets and in shelters feel that same warmth and excitement as they move into their new place and get started on their new lives by providing the essential items we all need to make our house a home.
Boston’s "Housing First" Initiative is making great strides towards ending long-term homelessness by placing people in safe, dignified housing first - immediately removing the chaos of living on the street and in shelters - and providing them with the support they need to rebuild their lives.
By assembling and donating Housewarming Baskets, you'll be an important part of welcoming people into their new homes where they'll find the stability and serenity they need to begin their journey to hopeful, peaceful futures.
It’s as simple as assembling new (not used) items like cleaning supplies, dish soap, laundry detergent, toilet paper, a set of sheets or towels, in a basket to be given as a housewarming gift to someone about to move into a place of their own- many for the first time in their lives.
And please include a welcome note, they mean a lot to the people who receive them.
You can also make this a fun and meaningful group project by holding a collection at your work, school, place of worship or even with a group of friends and family, and create as many baskets as you'd like!
We expect to help at least 200 more people move beyond homelessness into homes of their own this year and they'll all need a little help getting started. The baskets you make will be a big part of this! No matter what you choose, your gifts will transform someone's new apartment into a warm, welcoming home.
To get started, just download this flyer and share with everyone you'd like to participate: http://ow.ly/1Pnm307a4dB
12 Wise Street, Boston, MA 02130, US
Friends of Boston's Homeless develops and funds innovative, solution-oriented programs to help homeless men, women, and their children move beyond shelter to lead independent lives. In addition, through advocacy and education, Friends seeks to increase the public's awareness and understanding of the homeless. Friends serves to bridge the gap between public sector funding and the current needs of the homeless by providing a vehicle for individuals, businesses, foundations and charitable organizations to be a part of the solution to homelessness. Programs include basic shelter (bed, shower, food), comprehensive supportive services (health and mental health care, case management, substance abuse treatment and counseling), job training and employment services, adult education and literacy, life skills development, and transitional and permanent affordable housing. Shelters associated are Long Island Shelter (located in Boston Harbor) and Woods Mullen Shelter in the South End.
Helping the Homeless Move Beyond Shelter
One of the most effective solutions to homelessness is to help homeless individuals gain independence through education, employment, life skills development, and permanent housing. However, the solution is not as simple as building houses, schools and businesses. Nor is simply providing a bed, shower and a hot meal for the night sufficient for a permanent move beyond homelessness.
Many of the homeless have long histories in the Boston community: they have cycled for years between foster homes, shelters, marginal housing and low-income neighborhoods. Many have also experienced abusive family lives and relationships, and as a result often lack role models. Most have never in their lives known opportunity or stability. All have known repeated failure.
The homeless also often have inadequate education and lack the basic job skills, work experience, social supports and life and coping skills necessary to succeed independently. Lasting success for the homeless is difficult without first receiving assistance in addressing these issues.
Friends addresses these issues with each and every individual we serve, provding them the support and opprtunities to move beyond homelessness
We'll work with your schedule.
At your work, school or even homeBoston, MA 02110
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