
Father Bill’s & MainSpring provides basic needs for a family while connecting parents to housing, job placement, and outside resources, while also ensuring children’s health and education requirements are met. We take an individual approach when addressing each family’s unique needs and develop a plan to help them secure and maintain stable housing.
Congregate Shelter – Conway House & Evelyn House
The Conway House (12 units) and Evelyn House (16 units) offer secure, emergency shelter for families in a congregate setting. Our support staff work closely with each family to help them access services, benefits, workforce training, job opportunities and housing. We ensure children are attending school, families have access to health services, and that all basic needs are met. Once a family moves into permanent housing, our stabilization specialists continue meeting with them to provide support and guidance to help them maintain self-sufficiency.
Scattered Site Shelter
We have more than 100 scattered site shelter units that are for families experiencing homelessness. Eligible families are assigned to Father Bill’s & MainSpring staff who help place them in a setting that affords the family more independence as they work towards obtaining permanent housing.
WorkReady Family
Our team of employment specialists host various workshops at the family shelters that train participants for the professional workforce with classes covering topics such as soft skills, stress management, and customer service. Our specialists also help our guests find jobs through networking and career fairs, and by connecting them with training for certifications such as a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), etc. Click here to learn more about FBMS’ job-training programs.
Food and Nutrition
Families in need have access to a hot lunch every day at Father Bill’s Place in Quincy and MainSpring House in Brockton. Father Bill’s Place hosts a community lunch seven days per week, between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. At MainSpring House, The Table is open six days a week, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (closed Tuesdays). True to the motto “dining with dignity,” The Table serves nutritious meals prepared and served by a dedicated team of employees and volunteers.
Housing Search
Father Bill’s & MainSpring has a Housing Search team that works with a network of local landlords to help find permanent housing for families upon exiting shelter. Often times, this works in conjunction with HomeBASE funds, which is a state-funded program that covers up-front housing costs such as first and last month’s rent, and security deposit.