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The Community Campaign for CHAF (Community Housing Assistance Fund) helps HomeStart clients experiencing homelessness or housing instability to pay the high initial costs of moving into a safe, stable home. 

What is CHAF?

The Community Housing Assistance Fund (CHAF) was founded by a coalition of community banks and local realtors working with HomeStart in order to provide emergency assistance to end and prevent homelessness for our neighbors in need across Cambridge and Boston. Through the years, CHAF has supported the homeless community as follows:

 

  • Helped over 2,500 Cambridge and Boston households to avoid homelessness or move out of homelessness by paying expenses related to rental housing startup costs (first and last month’s rent, security deposits, moving costs and rental fees)

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  • Saved cities millions in tax dollars, given that it costs >$30,000/year to house a family in an emergency shelter

An Interview with CHAF Ambassador, Debbie Lewis:
CHAF Fundraising Resources:

Download our CHAF Fundraising Toolkit (PDF)

View our 2023 CHAF Impact Report

CHAF social media graphic 

CHAF fundraising email signature:

Thank You To Our 2023 CHAF Partners:
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Interested in signing up as a team or an individual to help?  
Contact Carrie Neff at
neff@homestart.org

857.415.2242

Sign up to help raise money for CHAF through your networks by clicking on the "Join the Community" button above and we will provide you with all the tools and resources you need to easily reach out to friends and family about helping our neighbors in crisis regain housing stability. 

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