Protecting Our Most Vulnerable

Based on guidance from public health organizations, and out of an abundance of caution for the vulnerable population we serve, FBMS has implemented the following guidelines and procedures at our shelter sites in order to limit any potential exposure of COVID-19 to our shelter guests:
- FBMS has implemented an enhanced, thorough intake screening process to our shelter guests on a nightly basis to ensure the health and safety of everyone in our buildings.
- Until further notice, no outside individuals/groups are allowed to enter our sites.
- Community lunch service will be suspended until further notice and bagged lunches will be provided to shelter guests. This will allow our operations teams to use daytime hours to adequately and safely prepare for our evening intake process and shelter hours.
- Earlier this winter, we stepped up our preventative measures to ensure our vulnerable population is safe, increasing the grade of our cleaning supplies, disinfecting more often, making sanitizer readily available.
We have partnered with public officials and local organizations to open temporary shelter sites to help depopulate Father Bill’s Place in Quincy and MainSpring House in Brockton. For example, in Quincy, the gymnasium inside the South Shore YMCA Quincy branch provided extra space and additional amenities to approximately 50 guests from Father Bill’s Place from April to June. In Brockton, several tents were erected outside of MainSpring House to serve approximately 60 individuals.
In June, in partnership with local officials we began operating satellite shelter sites at hotels in Quincy and Brockton, replacing the sites previously located at South Shore YMCA and in temporary tents.
We are committed to operating satellite sites for the duration of this crisis. By opening up new sites, there’s more space for guests and staff to follow social distancing guidelines recommended by the CDC and we have the flexibility to open up quarantine sites, if necessary.
We work with an immunodeficient population, including many elders, who are among the most vulnerable members of our community. Any virus, whether it’s the seasonal flu or coronavirus, can have an especially devastating impact on our shelter population, so it’s our responsibility to take every step needed to protect those we serve.
We hope you will keep this vulnerable population in mind as we move through these unprecedented times.
In The News

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Shelters lack space for homeless as winter arrives
WBUR: FBMS plans to convert hotel shelter into permanent housing
Old Colony Memorial: Plymouth homeless shelter opens for winter
The Brockton Enterprise: Father Bill’s in Brockton switches to meal pickup for Thanksgiving dinner
The Patriot Ledger: Father Bill’s in Quincy switches to delivery for Thanksgiving dinner
Quincy Access Television: John Yazwinski on “AM Quincy”
The Patriot Ledger: Father Bill’s & MainSpring raises $1.15 million in response to COVID-19 crisis
MassNonprofit News: Father Bill’s raises $1.15 million in special campaign, beats goal
The Patriot Ledger: Father Bill’s & MainSpring gives annual award to staff
The Hingham Journal: Frontline staff at FBMS recognized for COVID-19 service
The Hingham Journal: Two Hingham donors offer $100,000 matching gift to FBMS
Quincy Access Television (QATV): John Yazwinski on “Currently in Quincy”
The Brockton Enterprise: FBMS receives critical $150,000 donation from Yawkey Foundation

The Patriot Ledger: Canceled events due to COVID-19 mean millions lost for non-profits
The Brockton Enterprise: Tents gone in downtown; homeless guests moved to hotel
WBUR: Pandemic Exacerbates Challenge Of Finding Housing For Homeless Adults
Hingham Anchor: FBMS launches Campaign for Hope as alternative to FoodFest
The Patriot Ledger: FBMS launches campaign to support COVID-19 response
WCVB Channel 5: Quincy boy sends handwritten note to Father Bill’s Place
WHDH Channel 7: Milton church creating bag lunches for local shelter

WBUR: FBMS CEO John Yazwinski on NPR’s “All Things Considered”
The Brockton Enterprise: Bank of America gives boost to Brockton shelter during coronavirus crisis
The Patriot Ledger: Quincy hotel to serve as quarantine site
The Brockton Enterprise: Brockton shelter has extra space, but still faces challenges
WBZ Radio: Brockton builds tents to shelter homeless
The Brockton Enterprise: Heated tents going up for Brockton homeless amid coronavirus pandemic
The Patriot Ledger: Quincy YMCA to serve as secondary homeless shelter
Quincy Access Television (QATV): John Yazwinski on AM Quincy
WATD Radio: COVID-19 Presents Additional Challenges For Local Homeless Population
The Boston Globe: Father Bill’s & MainSpring seeks financial help amid COVID-19 pandemic
The Boston Globe: Homeless shelters work to stay afloat as coronavirus worries increase
The Boston Globe: How to protect the homeless during the coronavirus pandemic
The Patriot Ledger: Father Bill’s in Quincy copes with close quarters, loss of community meals during coronavirus crisis
The Brockton Enterprise: Packed Brockton homeless shelter calls for National Guard to help with coronavirus crisis
WBZ Radio: Coronavirus shutdowns leave homeless with nowhere to go