Massachusetts Alliance for Supportive Housing (MASH)
The Massachusetts Alliance for Supportive Housing (MASH) is dedicated to developing and expanding low-threshold permanent supportive housing (PSH) as a solution to homelessness in the Commonwealth. MASH is a collaboration of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA), United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley (UWMB), and Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH).
MASH Development and Capacity Building Grant Funds
MASH is currently managing $15 million in funds specifically designated to advance the creation of PSH for unaccompanied adults experiencing homelessness who have disabling conditions and who live in underserved areas that demonstrate high rates of racial inequities in homelessness, tent encampments, and/or shelter occupancy, and that may have been considered COVID-19 hot spots. These funds were allocated by the Massachusetts State Legislature in 2021 as part of a $150 million reserve to support the production of PSH.
In the summer of 2022, MASH opened a call for applications for Development and Capacity Building projects. In total, 52 Development proposals were submitted by 40 organizations, totaling $136 million in requested funding. There were 21 Capacity Building proposals submitted by 19 organizations, totaling $7.2 million in requested funding. The number of applications submitted clearly demonstrates the interest among organizations across the Commonwealth to meet this pressing need for more PSH.
MASH is awarding 10 organizations a combined total of $11.75 million for Development projects that will create 362 PSH units, and $1.2 million to eight organizations for Capacity Building projects. These grantee partners are located across Massachusetts from Pittsfield to Attleboro.
Development Projects
Action Inc., Gloucester
Berkshire Housing Development Corporation, Pittsfield
Community Teamwork, Inc. (CTI), Lowell
Independent Housing Solutions, Inc., Northampton
Louison House, North Adams
NeighborWorks® Housing Solutions (NHS) , Attleboro
Renaissance Development, Springfield
Worcester Community Housing Resources, Worcester
Capacity Building Projects
Commonwealth Land Trust, Boston
Justice 4 Housing, Springfield
Metro North Housing Corporation, Malden
NeighborWorks® Housing Solutions (NHS), South Shore
St. Francis House, Boston
Together We Stand Corporation, Fall River
To learn more, contact Verna Skeete, MASH Program Manager at the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, who can be reached at vskeete@mhsa.net.