Homeless Child Care Services

Because of funding cuts, homeless families living in shelter who were not referred by the DTA and are not taking part in an Employment Services Program (ESP) might not be eligible for child care assistance. Please check with your shelter worker or CCR&R.

What is homeless child care?

Homeless child care is a program that gives child care assistance to families living in homeless shelters. The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) is in charge of the program.

The purpose of the homeless child care program is to give homeless parents time to look for permanent housing, go to school or job training, or work.

Am I eligible?

If your family is living in a homeless shelter or domestic violence shelter, or a Local Housing Authority Transitional Housing Program (LHATHP), you can get homeless child care assistance. You can get child care for children from birth through age 12, or through age 16 if your child has a documented special need.

You can get child care if you are taking part in EEC approved activities including housing search, counseling sessions, parenting training, or other shelter activities.

You cannot get homeless child care if you are not in a shelter. However, you can leave your shelter for up to 30 days because of a medical problem and still keep your homeless voucher.

Note: If you are homeless and living with friends or relatives, you may want to apply for TAFDC so that you can get free DTA child care right away. If you are not eligible for TAFDC, you can apply for Income-Eligible Child Care.

What are the income limits?

If you were placed in shelter by the DHCD / DTA, you automatically meet the income limits. You do not have to provide additional proof of income.

If you were not referred to shelter by DHCD / DTA, you must meet the EEC income limits for income-eligible child care and provide proof of income.

What benefits will I get?

If the DHCD / DTA placed you in a shelter, you will get these child care benefits:

• You do not have to wait for child care. You can get a homeless child care voucher right away.
• You can get a voucher as soon as you move to the shelter, or at any other time while you are living in shelter.
  Note: If you were temporarily placed in a hotel or motel, you may have to wait until you move to a shelter to get homeless child care.
• The amount of child care you get will be based on your service need.
• A child care counselor will help you find appropriate child care for your child(ren).
• Child care is free.
• You can keep your voucher if you move from one shelter to another.
• You can use your voucher anywhere in Massachusetts. 

If you are living in a shelter but were not placed by the DHCD / DTA and you are not getting TAFDC, you will get these benefits:

• You will get priority for income-eligible child care. You may have to wait for child care, but your name will be placed near the top of the waiting list.
• Shelter staff will help you apply for a child care voucher or contracted slot.
• You may have to pay a copayment for child care depending on your income. See EEC Parent Co-Payment Table for Child Care.

Homeless families get extra time to submit copies of medical records showing their children have been properly immunized and examined so they can enroll in child care.

How do I apply?

Shelter staff will help you get a homeless child care voucher from your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency (CCR&R). A CCR&R child care counselor will help you find appropriate child care that meets your needs.

Useful links

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1. Child Care Assistance for Families Living in Shelters
   Information explaining homeless child care eligibility requirements and benefits. Includes Frequently Asked Questions and an explanation of the voucher process for families referred to shelter by the DTA. From the Department of Early Education and Care.

2. Income Eligible Financial Assistance - EEC
   Income limits, parent co-payment table, policy guide, and how to apply for child care financial assistance. From the Department of Early Education and Care.

3. Child Care for Homeless Families
   General information about homeless child care, written in easy-to-understand language. From MassLegalHelp.

4. Homeless Child Care - MassLegalServices
   Updates, policies, and other information about child care for homeless families. From MassLegalServices.

5. McKinney Local Housing Authority Transition Housing Program (LHATHP)
   Description, eligibility, and application process for state-aided LHATHP transitional housing for families.

Homeless Child Care section last updated on 4/29/10