Abby Kelley Foster House Inc

TO PROVIDE SHELTER AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS WELL AS ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT SERVICES, TO HOMELESS, BATTERED AND LOW-INCOME WOMEN, WITH OR WITHOUT CHILDREN. ABBY'S HOUSE EMPOWERS THE WOMEN WE SERVE TO LEAD SELF-DIRECTED LIVES FILLED WITH DIGNITY AND HOPE.

PROGRAM SUMMARY:OUR OVERNIGHT SHELTER, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS OPERATE YEAR-ROUND, SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK/24 HOURS PER DAY. WE HAVE AN ON-CALL CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE DURING NON-TRADITIONAL OFFICE HOURS.*REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF OUR PROGRAMS. OVERNIGHT SHELTER:STAFFED BY A SHELTER MANAGER, AN ASSISTANT MANAGER, AND MORE THAN 20 REGULAR VOLUNTEERS, OUR 9-BED OVERNIGHT SHELTER PROVIDES WOMEN, WITH AND WITHOUT CHILDREN, WITH SAFE SHELTER AND FOCUSES ON HELPING HER PUT TOGETHER A PLAN TO ADDRESS HER IMMEDIATE NEEDS. WE ASSIST HER IN FINDING AND SECURING LONGTERM, STABLE HOUSING EITHER IN ABBY'S HOUSE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OR ELSEWHERE, OR HELP HER TO ACCESS RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS, LIKE INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAMS, WHEN FURTHER STABILIZATION IS REQUIRED IN TRANSITIONING TOWARDS PERMANENT HOUSING.ABBY'S HOUSE PLANS TO RENOVATE THE SHELTER BUILDING IN 2023. THE RENOVATION WILL EXPAND THE SHELTER FROM A CONGREGATE SHELTER WITH 5 ROOMS AND 9 BEDS TO A NON-CONGREGATE SHELTER WITH 13 ROOMS AND 18 BEDS.SUPPORTIVE HOUSING:WITH SEVEN TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENTS AND 72 SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY HOUSING UNITS IN THREE BUILDINGS IN WORCESTER, ABBY'S HOUSE IS WORCESTER'S LARGEST PROVIDER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN. WE MEET THE NEEDS OF WORKING WOMEN WHO CANNOT AFFORD MARKET-RATE RENT OR ALLOW THOSE WHO ARE ON SSI OR SSDI TO LIVE SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY.IN 2019, ABBY'S HOUSE COMPLETED THE RENOVATION OF 52 HIGH STREET, A NEARLY CENTURY-OLD BUILDING AND OUR LARGEST PROPERTY OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THE RENOVATION ADDED TWO UNITS OF HOUSING, BRINGING THE TOTAL COUNT TO 56; UPDATED HVAC, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, AND SECURITY SYSTEMS; AND INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY WITH A RECONFIGURED ENTRANCE, AN ELEVATOR, AND ACCESSIBLE KITCHENS AND BEDROOMS. THE RENOVATION PRESERVED THIS CRITICALLY NEEDED HOUSING FOR DECADES TO COME.ADVOCACY:ADVOCATES HELP WOMEN TO IDENTIFY REALISTIC GOALS AND PROVIDE THE TOOLS NEEDED TO ACHIEVE THEM. INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES ALLOW US TO WORK WITH EACH WOMAN, GIVEN HER OWN SPECIFIC SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND NEEDS. ADVOCATES HELP OUR SHELTER GUESTS AND RESIDENTS ACCESS WRAPAROUND SERVICES THEY NEED TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE. IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE WOMEN SERVED, WE WORK WITH MORE THAN 120 OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS. OUR FOCUS IS TO EFFECTIVELY CREATE A SYSTEM OF SEAMLESS SERVICE PROVISION, SUPPORT WOMEN WITH THE SOMETIMES-DAUNTING TASK OF MATCHING NEEDS WITH EXISTING RESOURCES, AND ASSIST THEM WITH ACCESSING THOSE SERVICES.REFERRAL SERVICES:WE RECEIVE A MINIMUM OF 20 - 25 CALLS OR IN-PERSON VISITS PER WEEK FROM WOMEN SEEKING HELP AND PROVIDE THEM WITH EDUCATION THAT EMPOWERS THEM TO ACCESS NEEDED RESOURCES. WE PROVIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO EXTERNAL AGENCIES THAT OFFER A RANGE OF SUPPORTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES, NUTRITION AND INCOME ASSISTANCE, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, FINANCIAL LITERACY, PARENTING SUPPORTS, MEDICAL SERVICES, GOVERNMENT-ASSISTED PERMANENT HOUSING, AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE. DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING POSITIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL PROFESSIONALS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN OTHER AREAS OF HUMAN SERVICES IS VITAL FOR EFFECTIVE REFERRALS. THESE RELATIONSHIPS ENABLE STAFF TO MAINTAIN UP-TO-DATE AND ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT AVAILABLE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP WOMEN REACH THEIR GOALS.ANNETTE RAFFERTY WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CENTER:EVERY CURRENT AND PAST RESIDENT AND GUEST IS INVITED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE ANNETTE RAFFERTY WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CENTER AT ABBY'S HOUSE. WOMEN'S CENTER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WEEKLY NUTRITIOUS MEALS, HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS, A FOOD PANTRY, FINANCIAL LITERACY SESSIONS, COMPUTER ACCESS AND COMPUTER TRAINING, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES BASED ON WOMEN'S INTERESTS AND VOLUNTEER AVAILABILITY. THE CAMARADERIE THAT IS BUILT THROUGH THE WOMEN'S CENTER PROVIDES A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND STABILITY IN WOMEN'S LIVES.THRIFT SHOP:ABBY'S HOUSE THRIFT SHOP OFFERS GENTLY USED CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO WOMEN IN NEED. EACH WEEK WE RECEIVE ITEMS FROM DEDICATED SUPPORTERS. VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF SORT ITEMS AND PROVIDE A SAFE, AFFORDABLE AND COMFORTABLE PLACE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND SHELTER GUESTS TO SHOP. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING CLOTHING VOUCHERS TO THE WOMEN WHO RESIDE AT ABBY'S HOUSE, WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO OFFER CLOTHING VOUCHERS TO WOMEN FROM OVER 25 AGENCIES WHO WORK WITH WOMEN IN NEED. ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE THRIFT SHOP SUPPORT THE MISSION OF ABBY'S HOUSE.ANNETTE RAFFERTY SURVIVE TO THRIVE (ARST) FUND:THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE APPLICATION PROCESS INVOLVING RESIDENTS OR SHELTER GUESTS AND THEIR ADVOCATES, THE ARST FUND PROVIDES EMERGENCY FUNDING TO COVER EXPENSES LIKE MEDICAL AND DENTAL NEEDS. THIS FUND ALSO HELPS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO RESIDENTS AND SHELTER GUESTS FOR EDUCATION OR VOCATIONAL TRAINING WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING THEM TO BECOME FINANCIALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT. ADDITIONAL GRANTS ARE MADE TO COVER THE ESCALATING COSTS OF OBTAINING PERMANENT AND STABLE HOUSING INCLUDING FIRST, LAST AND SECURITY PAYMENTS REQUIRED FOR MOVING INTO AN APARTMENT.