The Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter (MATS) in Peterborough recently received three grants, which will help fulfill different aspects of its mission to provide transitional housing, support and referral services to people who are experiencing homelessness.
A grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation will provide rental assistance for guests as they transition from the shelter to independent housing. Most rental apartments require up-front costs such as security deposit and first and last month’s rent, and this assistance will mean guests will be able to move toward independence with less financial insecurity.
A grant from the Agnes Lindsay Trust is earmarked for camperships. An element in housing independence is stable employment. With summer arriving, parents scramble to find activities and child care, which in turn allows them to work. This money will help families afford programs that provide activities in the summer, as well as during school breaks.
A third grant, from the TD Charitable Foundation, is earmarked for workforce development. The MATS program works to remove barriers to financial and housing stability through assistance with accessing resources for affordable housing, child care, transportation and mental health referrals. In addition, theses funds will be used to help MATS guests participate in job-preparedness and skills-building programs, college or vocational certification, career counseling, high school equivalency test preparation and the purchase of work uniforms and clothing.