Hildebrand is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides Emergency Assistance shelter, case management and supportive services, affordable permanent housing, and post-shelter stabilization services to families experiencing homelessness in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Families are referred to Hildebrand through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), the state agency that manages the Emergency Assistance shelter program. If you or someone you know is currently experiencing homelessness, visit your local DTA office. To find the closest location, visit this link.

Generally, families are screened based on income verification, domestic violence, and/or other emergencies such as facing a housing crisis. For more information, please visit this link.

While finding permanent housing is certainly a large part of our case management services, families also participate in 30 hours of self-sufficiency work a week, which includes: employment, training programs, English language courses, school, etc. We work with clients on finding housing and overcoming systemic barriers that stand in the way of families securing permanent housing.

Families can expect to work with their case manager to set goals for individual family needs. Case managers help families stay on track to achieve their goals. The case manager’s goal is to ensure all needs of the family are met while empowering families to become self-sufficient.

Case Managers expect that families are engaged in all aspects of services. Our client is the whole family, not merely the head of household. We support the needs of all members of the family.

Units are assigned based upon family size and availability. Case managers may recommend families for congregate living or scattered site programs based on the needs of the individual family.

Hildebrand has scattered-site apartments, co-shelter programs, and congregate living programs throughout Cambridge and Boston, including in the neighborhoods of Dorchester, East Boston, Mattapan, Roxbury, and Hyde Park. The majority of Hildebrand units are located in Dorchester.

Congregate programs are shared living spaces in which families have their own bedroom and a shared living room, kitchen, and bathroom with 2-3 other families. Congregate shelter locations house from 7 to 20 families at a time. They are staffed 24/7 and case management happens on site. Scattered-site shelter units are individual apartments that serve as emergency shelter. Hildebrand holds the lease for these units, which are located throughout Cambridge and Boston.

Project Bread Food Source Hotline
Monday-Friday from 8am-7pm
Saturday 10am-2pm
1-800-645-8333

Or you can visit this link to find the local food pantry nearest you.

Historically Hildebrand has been able to support family with holiday gifts for their children and, at times, turkeys and the fixings for Thanksgiving. This support is contingent upon donations.

A copy of both Hildebrand Shelter Rules and the Uniform Shelter Rules will be given to you upon intake. If you need to obtain an additional copy, you can ask the Case Manager directly or retrieve them from the EOHLC website.

Families may not bring more than the equivalent of two larger 30-gallon bags per person with them into shelter. This includes those in scattered-site units.

• Social Security Card for all family members
• Date of birth for all family members
• Income verification
• Accurate and complete five year housing history

If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911. If the issues requires Hildebrand support after hours (between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday or Sunday or a holiday in which there is an office closure) please call the Bishop House at 617-492-2797. Please use this number for maintenance issues after hours.

During Business Hours:
If a maintenance issue is needed during business hours, families should call their Case Manager directly to report the issue in as detailed a manner as possible. This issue will then be reported to the Facilities Department. Depending on the maintenance need, a follow up appointment at the unit will be scheduled and the family will be notified of the visit.

Outside Business Hours:
For maintenance emergencies i.e. the heat is not working during the winter, families should call the Bishop House at 617-492-2797. The staff on duty will alert the Facilities On-Call Administrator who will follow-up as necessary.