Children's Program
Shelter Music Boston's children's programming serves children and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Greater Boston.
Steph plays marimba at Housing Families, October 2022
Our Children's Program concerts are held monthly at 3 partner sites that serve families.
Family Concerts
Since 2018 Shelter Music Boston has served Greater Boston children and/or families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Initially developed in partnership with the Boston Philharmonic (BPO), this collaboration has created an innovative program tailored to children and families utilizing homeless shelters and other services. Classical music is implemented to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children and families whose lives are filled with the uncertainty symptomatic of homelessness. This program fosters intellectual stimulation and emotional connection using educational tools to encourage creativity and inspire hope for children and families in desperate circumstances.
Puppet Project 2024
In collaboration with Housing Families and CactusHead Puppets, Shelter Music Boston embarked on a five-workshop journey learning how to make puppets, how puppetry interacts with music, and using puppetry to make skits and talk about feelings.
Our Site Partners
Malden, MA
Housing Families serves more than 890 homeless families, including more than 1,000 children each year. The organization believes in a holistic approach to ending family homelessness by addressing the concrete housing needs as well as complex circumstances that lead to housing loss and the continuing negative effects that result from homelessness. Housing Families’ case managers and program staff provide one-on-one care and advocacy for all family members. This care begins with each family’s arrival at the Housing Families Emergency Shelter and continues throughout the journey toward stable, permanent housing.
Our Children's Program is delivered to Housing Families' EnrichED Afterschool Program and the emergency shelter at the recently converted Sonesta Select in Woburn.
Lowell, MA
As Greater Lowell’s Community Action Agency, Community Teamwork mobilizes resources for low-income people, providing opportunities for them to achieve stability, self-sufficiency and have an active voice and participation in the decisions that affect their lives. Their Child Care and Early Education programs support family self-sufficiency by providing nurturing, safe and supportive programs for families with children ages birth through middle school age. Its programs help low-income families meet their children’s educational, social, nutritional and health needs and encourage parents to participate fully in shaping these programs and services to best meet their needs.
Cambridge, MA
Hildebrand’s mission is to transition families out of homelessness to safe, affordable, permanent housing while working to disrupt systems that lead to poverty and homelessness. When each family arrives at Hildebrand, they find resources, services, and programming to support them throughout their journey to transition out of homelessness. Each family’s situation is unique, and Hildebrand staff work together with every family to build on their strengths and leverage resources to find stability and a permanent home.