how do i get into BHA or other housing help? i am going to be homeless (Boston: fit in)

[jason2296]

hi there, basically what is happening is i am 19 and live with my dad in south boston. he recently found out that i am gay because one of his friends saw me with a guy two weekends ago hanging out by fenway...he was angry that day but did not say anything since. today the land lord called my dad and told him that when the lease is up on our 2 bedroom apartment he is going to increase the rent by more than half. my dad is moving with his girlfriend to pittsfield where she is from and he told me that i cant come with him when i move and that "if you are grown up enough to go out and find men to sleep with, you are grown up enough to have your own apartment" which is fair enough i understand that he doesnt like me being gay and is not comfortable any more. i work part time off the books for a family friends in cambridge and dont make that much money (maybe $700 a month sometimes a little less sometimes a little more depending on hours) and i have been looking for other jobs but i cannot find a thing. i am on the waitlist to start with the cement workers union that my dad was in before he was hurt and got on ssid. i am originally from the projects in cambridge where i used to live/was born with my mom but i cant stay with her because she is now in prison for up to 10 years.

i do not have any other family and anyone i considered a friend i have already asked but to no avail


i am really trying and i will do anything i just do not want wind up on the street because i am a scrawny red headed white guy and if i do not freeze to death someone will hurt me, same with shelters i have heard they are very unsafe especially if you are small and cannot fight well like me. i am a good person and i do not do drugs i am in a bad spot though


do you know of any way i can get housing of any sort in anywhere in boston area like boston, cambridge, somerville, chelsea, brookline, braintree, revere, winthrop etc? i will take living in a single room occupant (sro) apartment if it means i am safe and have a roof. dad and i have until one week after the lease ends on 4/1 to move so i have to figure something out.

if any of you have any info or idea or resources PLEASE let me know so i can figure this one out. i know i need more work i am trying so hard to find something

[BostonBornMassMade]

Damn brother, Ill try to help you out cause your a native from the area, im not white and Im not gay but im only a year odler than you and I feel for you man. Dont be afraid to come on down to Roxbury or Dorchester. Down in those areas, especially if you can go to like an African American area where they speak english well, and stuff. Down in those areas I bet you could find a community center or a YMCA or something where people are working city jobs and have dealt with many in situations like yours before. Ive seen it with my own eyes, I cant think of any places off the dome but I know those neighborhoods seemingly revolve around helping people go into BHA. They're also chock full of BHA housing. Like Im sure someone would love to help you and I suggest Roxbury Dorchester or even Hyde Park because they're very used to dealing with housing crises. Also check in at liberally places like Cambridge or Brookline, ik some Bostonians who have found help in those towns. Chelsea is probablly straight overwhelmed atm and I think there is a serious drug problem up there , rever is probablly to broke as a city and affordable to have much. Winthrop is trying desperately to not succumb to forces that created revere and east boston as they are today. Braintree would have very little affordable subsidized housing but Quincy would. Good luck brother, let me know if this helped man..

[Niandra]

I'm so sorry you're struggling like this, that is awful.


Check out Haley House in Roxbury. They helped out one of my friends when he was homeless and got him into a good job in a supportive environment. 23 Dartmouth Street, Boston. 617...236...8132

There is also Youth on Fire in Harvard Square which is a drop in day center. It's located at 1555 Mass Ave. They can connect you to lots of different services and provide hot meals, showers, and a safe place to store your belongings. 617...661...2508. They have a ***** Coffee Hour meeting coming up tomorrow March 9th at 3:30pm.

Boston GLASS is another resource. They have a drop in center at 75 Amory Street in JP. 617...266...3349

Fenway Community Health Center at 7 Haviland Street also has a lot of support services. They have a peer listening line: 1...800...399...PEER


Another place is Bridge Over Troubled Waters which has shelter services. They service youths aged 14 to 24. Their address is 47 West Street, Boston and their phone number is 617...423...9575. Their intake hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 4:30pm

[bostonguy1960]

In Quincy, Neighborhood Housing is an agency that places some people from Father Bill's shelter in Quincy into subsidized rooms. But I think you would need to do it with a case manager.

It's at 422 Washington St., Quincy.

Or maybe contact that shelter directly to link up with a case manager?

As someone stated, maybe Fenway Health hasc referrals or case managers.

[diegomar]

You must feel overwhelmed. I'm sorry to read about your situation. The Boston Housing Authority gives priority one status to homeless people and also preference if you're living in the city. In other words, if you are homeless living the city, you will get priority one + preference. You will be given several options of where you want to live, choose them wisely because some BHA projects are same or worst than living in a homeless shelter.

The priority one status plus the preference for living in the city will place your name on top of all the waiting lists for which you qualify. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean that you will get housing from overnight to morning. The whole process could take up to a year or longer depending on your housing history, criminal background, how promptly you submit required documents and vacancies.

Be ready to provide at least 5 years of housing history. My suggestion is go to a homeless shelter and get a case manager that help you follow up with BHA. You can also follow up by your own if you don't get a case manager. BHA will require a certification from every the homeless shelter where you go stating how long you have been in that shelter.

I sincerely hope this info help you. I wish you the best. Believe in you, believe that you can overcome this adversity.

[dakota.]

I hope you are doing okay. I really feel for you.

A few years ago, I was in a similar situation. My parents had disowned me, I had no job, no money in the bank, and I was about to lose my housing. I had also tried to find subsidized housing, but the places I spoke to gave preference to people with specific problems (drug abuse, domestic violence, single parent) and I did not fit into any of those categories. I ended up taking odd jobs, anything I could do to support myself. I went to the bank and took out a loan to pay the first/last/security on an apartment. I rented a small room in a shared apartment, and I worked and worked and worked. Today I am doing fine.

My advice to you is to not rely on the system to help you out; try it but try other things too. The most important thing is getting a job that pays the bills. Apply to all jobs that you are interested in, even if you are not the ideal candidate. Most of the time, your application will be rejected; every now and then, there will be a company that is willing to hire and train you.

Also, consider relocating. Greater Boston is not cheap; look for a place with high minimum-wage and low cost-of-living (e.g. TX). Nothing wrong with applying to jobs out of state. If you get the job, you can take out a loan to help with relocation expenses; sometimes, companies will also help pay a portion of the moving expenses.

Not sure how you are going to find immediate housing. It took me a few months to secure an apartment. Maybe you can try speaking with the priest at a local church. Or ask a friend if you can stay just until you find an apartment; of course, offer to help with rent and chores.

Sorry about your situation. Believe in yourself, even if others don't believe in you. Don't get discouraged if you aren't making progress. Keep trying; if one thing isn't working out, try something else. When bad things happen, shrug it off; if you dwell on it, you will destroy yourself.

Remember that you can be happy by yourself and without money. When I was a kid, I was happy roaming around outside by myself and without money. Today, I am still the same person, just a bit older. This kind of thinking might seem silly to most people, but it has helped me immensely.

[goyguy]

Since the OP was "one and done" nearly two weeks ago the best any of us can do is hope for the best.

I think he'll make it through this trial by fire just fine, and probably emerge all the more strong. What's encouraging is that he's obviously not had the good fortune of "ideal" and untroubled parents, not to mention an upbringing in the "jets," so is armed with street smarts and survival skills. All too many gay teen boys don't have that when they're in the same situation. So they wind up as easy prey for "sugar daddies" and pornographers and become another statistic: Drug addiction, STD's, suicide, other ugly stuff. This guy? I don't think so.

Additional resource suggestions, and encouragement, awaited him but will be saved for the next person in need.

Any parent who can cast aside their own flesh and blood because of what "religion" and "society" dictate had no business having unprotected sex, I'm sorry.

[miu]

Yes. I had noticed the the OP never returned to this thread. I find it odd that his C-D membership was suspended. However, at least a lot of good suggestions were made in this thread for him.