Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change (MFOFC) Housing Connections is designed to help families communicate with other families with similar interests to find or create a home for their loved one with a disability.

1. is designed to help families communicate with other
families with similar interests to find or create a
home for their loved one with a disability
Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change
A statewide, grassroots coalition dedicated to individual and family support
www.mfofc.org

2. Established in January 2013, MFOFC Housing Connections
is the first of its kind offered in New England.
It is our hope that this tool will serve as a key that opens
doors of opportunity to help create an enriching life for
the individual. A life that is filled with valued friendships,
real relationships, meaningful employment, community
participation and the ideal living situation to call HOME.

3. http://www.mfofc-hc.org/housingconnections/
The 4 Step Housing Connections Process

4. STEP 1: REGISTRATION
The family member or caregiver will create a Housing Connections Account by registering. Registration will
initiate membership to MFOFC and Housing Connections and create a Profile. The Profile is the identity of the
Member and will enable communication with other Members while maintaining privacy.

5. Complete the member agreement,
and click SEND:
There is no charge to join Housing Connections.
MFOFC welcomes all people interested in the
issues we pursue. If you are not currently a
member of MFOFC, registration to MFOFC
Housing Connections will automatically initiate
membership.

6. STEP 2: THE HOUSING CONNECTOR

7. STEP 2: THE HOUSING CONNECTOR (cont’d)
The Housing Connector tool starts with
a series of questions that relate to the
individual personally, daily living
needs, financial and material support
and other relevant information. The
answers to these questions will enable
Members to locate people with similar
goals who may be compatible future
housing mates.
Many families cannot or choose not to
answer every question, which is OK.
The questionnaire is not designed to
be exhaustive, but rather to be a
starting point for finding potential
housemates.

8. STEP 2: THE HOUSING CONNECTOR (cont’d)

9. STEP 2: THE HOUSING CONNECTOR (cont’d)
We would encourage you to
include some additional
information under question
25; this can provide insight
into the type of situation you
seek.
Save your responses
when you are done.
Answers to any of these 25 questions may change over time. You can
change your answers at any time.
To Update your information, log in to your account and then click on the
Questionnaire Tab in the Main Menu to display your existing responses.
Make your changes and when complete, click “Save”.

10. STEP 3: SEARCH

11. STEP 3: SEARCH (cont’d)
Click the Housing Connector Tab in the Main Menu to screen for matches:

12. STEP 3: SEARCH (cont’d)
The Key Factors are filters to help you narrow your search of
potential matches. Choose the Key Factor(s) most important
to you and click “Search”:

13. STEP 4: COMMUNICATION
Either download or email your matches:

14. STEP 4: COMMUNICATION (cont’d)
Open the file in a spreadsheet:
For those unfamiliar with Excel, this basic
tutorial video may be of help.
*This video is also on the Housing Connections Resources page (FAQs)

15. The column titles are on the top. Each row represents a member’s
questionnaire response.
Re-sizing the columns may make them easier to read:

16. Freezing the column and row headings is also helpful.
Highlight cell B2, and click on “Freeze Panes” under the “View” tab in
Excel. This will keep the column headings and email addresses in place
as you scroll through the information.

17. Look through the information for possible matches.
The “Additional Information” (last column), if used, can be particularly
insightful.
Use the masked email addresses in column A
to contact possible matches.

18. Using the Information:
Refer to the Housing Connections Resources page. Here you will find a
list of “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs), housing related publications
and links to additional resources.

19. “Ideas can be life-changing. Sometimes all you
need to open the door is just one more good idea.”
Jim Rohn
Thank you for your interest in Housing Connections.
We welcome your feedback and invite you to send your comments or
questions to: mfofc@mfofc.org

20. Upgrade to the Housing Connector Tool
http://www.mfofc-hc.org/housingconnections/
was made possible with a grant from the
Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC).