CSS has a series of different residential, homeless services ranging in level from homeless shelters, transitional/temporary housing, and permanent housing. All our housing programs are full serviced programs, including case management, supervision, and consultation from all our other services when needed. Most of our housing programs are referral only, and not self referral, and there are a number of qualifications you would need to meet to enter the programs.

Our unisex shelter in Taunton, MA is called Samaritan House. Designed for single men and women, Samaritan is a 20 bed shelters which offers a wide range of services beyond just shelter.

Donovan House is transitional housing for women and children located in New Bedford MA. It is a three story dorm style shared living, designed to transition women and their children into more permanent forms of housing.

Our permanent residential housing caters to families, singles, persons with disabilities, women and families fleeing domestic violence, and women transitioning from incarceration. These facilities range from shared single room occupancy living to single family homes. We operate more than 100 residences in New Bedford, Fall River, and Taunton/Attleboro. There are strict guidelines to enter these programs, and they are all agency referral based, and not self referral, please see our qualification page for guidelines.

CLIENT ADVISORY BOARD
CSS has an advisory board for it residential programs made up of current and former clients.  They meet once per quarter to brainstorm program improvements, issues, and policies.  The provide a clients viewpoint, and no professional staff participate in these board meetings.  Some of the issues that have been discussed by our Advisory Board include:

1. Increased guidance from case workers to achieve program goals
2. Assistance in helping client envision what their future can be (mentoring from other clients).
3. Adjust home visits based upon a clients need, and not to a set schedule.
4. Giving clear indicators of what is expected of a client and what a clients responsibilities are when they first enter our residential programs.
5. Given clear indication of what the particular rules of a program are, going over them with a client as opposed to just giving them to the client on a list to read.
6. Issues with clients should be discussed in private and not in earshot of other clients.
7. The need for better protocol when there is conflict between staff and clients, with the ability to have a neutral party mediate and the ability to appeal mediation.
8. More sensitivity to the struggle women, especially mothers, deal with when becoming homeless.

Using these points, give CSS and insight into our clients, and changes we might want to make to better improve our programs.

For general questions or information about all our Residential Programs, please contact:

AARON MCNAMEE
Coordinator of Supportive Housing
New Bedford Office
(508) 997 - 7337

MARIA PEREIRA, MSW, LICSW
Chief Operating Officer
New Bedford Office
(508) 997 - 7337