Commonwealth of Massachusetts Opens Safety Net Family Shelter in Registry of Deeds Building in East Cambridge

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has announced the opening of a Safety Net Family Shelter at the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds Building, located at 208 Cambridge Street in East Cambridge. This initiative aims to provide shelter for families eligible for Emergency Assistance (EA) when they cannot be immediately placed into an EA unit. The City of Cambridge has been actively working with the Commonwealth’s team to ensure the site will meet necessary safety requirements and be supported by the surrounding neighborhood.

The site, which will be used in the evening and overnight hours, will ensure that families -- who are initially assessed at a state intake site and confirmed to be eligible for Emergency Assistance -- have a warm and safe place to stay overnight until an Emergency Assistance shelter unit is available. While many of the families entering the Family Shelter system are migrants, refugees or asylum seekers, families who are fleeing domestic violence, a no-fault eviction or whose children are exposed to a substantial health and safety risk may be eligible to apply.

In the near-term, approximately 20-30 families are expected to be temporarily housed at the Cambridge site starting the evening of Friday, December 22. The Middlesex South Registry of Deeds space will ultimately be able to accommodate up to 70 families with cots and amenities. The state is working with provider AMI and local community partners to coordinate transportation to daytime resources. 24-hour security will be provided on-site. 

“Our team has been working to identify ways the City of Cambridge can support the families who will be staying in the new Safety Net Family Shelter,” said Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang. “We recognize the crisis occurring across Massachusetts and the nation. We are committed to welcoming the families coming to Cambridge and ensuring they are well cared for. We have been collaborating with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to assist in successfully implementing this critically needed resource and ensure any potential impacts to the immediate neighborhood are minimized.”

The City’s Office of the Housing Liaison is coordinating between Cambridge, the state, and City departments. An inter-departmental working group – including the City Manager’s Office, Cambridge’s public safety departments, Cambridge Public Schools, Department of Human Service Programs, the Human Rights Commission, Community Safety Department, Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge Public Health, and the City Solicitor’s Office – has been meeting to plan the City’s response and provide necessary resources. As more information becomes available, the City will share it in its daily email to the community and post it to the City’s website at www.cambridgema.gov.

The EA Emergency Family Shelter system is for families with children under 21 years of age and individuals who are pregnant. Families who are facing homelessness can apply by phone at (866) 584-0653. For additional information on the Commonwealth Emergency Housing Assistance Programs, visit https://www.mass.gov/emergency-housing-assistance.

The City has also set up a dedicated email address and phone number to help coordinate responses to questions by the Cambridge Community. Any resident, business, or non-profit organization in the city can email housingliaison@cambridgema.gov or call (617) 349-7222.

Visit the Safety Net Family Shelter website for the latest information. 

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