About Us
Founded in 1991 by concerned citizens, the Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter (MATS) is a transitional shelter run by volunteers from local communities and a part-time Case Manager. MATS serves the towns of the Greater Monadnock Region, and we also accept referrals from other shelters throughout the tri-state area.
To inquire about shelter, please call 211 for assistance, or call your local welfare officer who will get in touch with MATS. You may also email us at matscasemanager@gmail.com
MATS is a registered, private, non-profit 501c3 organization. Our funding comes entirely from donations from area churches, businesses, service organizations, grants and private citizens. We do not receive funding from the federal or state governments, or from The River Center on Concord Street in Peterborough where our organization is a partner.
MATS is not an emergency shelter. We require that all potential guests be part of an interview with our case manager, and agree to a criminal background check before we can admit them into our program. We do not allow smoking or alcohol in the building; there are other house rules which must be adhered to or risk being asked to leave.
With the help of our Case Manager and some Board members who act as mentors to individual guests, we help people in a variety of ways: find a new or better job, get their GED, find childcare, secure state benefits and transportation -- whatever is needed to get our guests back to self-sufficiency.
MATS offers a safe environment for people 21 years old and older in four (4) apartments in Peterborough, NH. Families may share an apartment with another family or, depending on the number of people, may have their own apartment. Guests generally stay in our program between 3 and 6 months. Because we pay the mortgage, heat, basic phone and electricity, we consider people our guests while they live in the shelter; they pay only for their food and cell phone. Through our part-time Case Manager, guests learn of various state agencies where they may find help according to their needs. Our Case Manager also assists each guest with budgeting and goal setting, and meets at least once/week with each guest to assertain his/her needs and progress and to set new goals. In conjunction with the federal guideline that people spend one-third of their gross income on housing (including heat and electricity), MATS requires each guest/family to open a Savings Account into which they must put 30% of their income as a means of helping them return to a life of self-sufficiency.
Board of Trustees:
Peter Harrison, President;
Joan Foucher, Vice-President;
Lynn Thibodeau, Secretary;
Ernest Belletete, Treasurer;
Katy Barnes; Julia Flood-Page; Joan Foucher; Marybeth Hallinan; Paul Hertneky; Bob Pettegrew; Hope Pettegrew; Rev. David Robins; Deb Rodenhiser; Erin Sweeney
The Mission of the Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter is to provide transitional housing, support, and referral services to people who are homeless; to educate the community on issues of homelessness; and to advocate for solutions.
