Housing Families, Inc.

Housing Families is a Malden-based nonprofit working to ensure housing stability for families, individuals and communities north of Boston. Its services range from emergency shelter, outreach and warming centers for people experiencing homelessness to permanent supportive housing that pairs affordable housing with supportive services for chronically homeless families and individuals. The organization says it is the only nonprofit in Greater Boston to offer this full set of holistic services under one umbrella.

Local residents founded the group in 1986 to respond to homelessness in Malden, Medford and Everett. It has since grown into one of the largest operators of affordable housing for homeless and very low-income families in Massachusetts. Alongside housing, it provides free legal aid to prevent eviction, trauma support services including counseling, therapy and support groups for all ages, tutoring, after-school programs and summer camps for young people, and access to culturally relevant, nutritious food.

What to Know

• Staff help clients navigate resources from the organization, the Commonwealth and partner agencies.
• Volunteers receive extensive training, and no prior experience is required.
• The group advocates for equitable government housing policies.
• It belongs to the Everett, Malden and Melrose chambers of commerce.