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:SHELTER, HOUSING, AND WOMEN'S SERVICES PROGRAMS OPERATE YEAR-ROUND, SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK AND 24 HOURS PER DAY. WE HAVE AN ON-CALL SYSTEM IN PLACE 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 AN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF SHELTER OPERATIONS, A DEDICATED SHELTER ADVOCATE, AND OVERNIGHT STAFF, ABBY'S HOUSE'S OVERNIGHT SHELTER PROVIDES WOMEN, WITH AND WITHOUT CHILDREN, WITH SAFE SHELTER. OPERATIONS ARE ALSO SUPPORTED BY A TEAM OF REGULAR VOLUNTEERS. INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT IS PROVIDED BY THE SHELTER ADVOCATE WHICH FOCUSES ON HELPING GUESTS BUILD A PLAN TO ADDRESS THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS. WE ASSIST THEM IN FINDING AND SECURING LONG-TERM, STABLE HOUSING-EITHER IN ABBY'S HOUSE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OR ELSEWHERE; THIS MAY INCLUDE HELPING THEM TO ACCESS RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS, SUCH AS INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAMS, WHEN FURTHER STABILIZATION IS REQUIRED IN TRANSITIONING TOWARDS PERMANENT HOUSING.ABBY'S HOUSE IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING RENOVATION OF THE SHELTER BUILDING LOCATED AT 21-23 CROWN STREET IN WORCESTER; THIS BEGAN IN JULY OF 2023. THE RENOVATION WILL IMPROVE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE BUILDING, MAKING IT FULLY ACCESSIBLE AND WILL EXPAND THE SHELTER FROM A CONGREGATE SETTING WITH 5 ROOMS AND 9 BEDS TO A NON-CONGREGATE SHELTER WITH 13 ROOMS AND 18 BEDS. INCREASED LIVING SPACES, A DEDICATED STAFF OFFICE, AND TWO APARTMENTS WILL ENHANCE THE CAPACITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING:ABBY'S HOUSE IS WORCESTER'S LARGEST PROVIDER OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN. WE MEET THE NEEDS OF WORKING WOMEN WHO CANNOT AFFORD MARKET-RATE RENT AND OUR OPTIONS ALSO ALLOW THOSE WHO ARE ON SSI OR SSDI TO LIVE SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY. ABBY'S HOUSE HAS 3 BUILDINGS WHICH COLLECTIVELY PROVIDE SEVEN TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENTS AND 72 SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY HOUSING UNITS. IN 2019, ABBY'S HOUSE COMPLETED THE RENOVATION OF 52 HIGH STREET, A CENTURY-OLD BUILDING, AND OUR LARGEST PROPERTY OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THE RENOVATION ADDED TWO UNITS OF HOUSING, BRINGING THE TOTAL COUNT TO 56. OUR HVAC, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, AND SECURITY SYSTEMS WERE UPDATED AND INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A RECONFIGURED ENTRANCE, ELEVATOR, AND ACCESSIBLE KITCHENS AND BEDROOMS. THE RENOVATION PRESERVED THIS CRITICALLY NEEDED HOUSING FOR DECADES TO COME.WOMEN'S SERVICES:THE WOMEN'S SERVICES TEAM IS SUPPORTED BY FRONTLINE ADVOCATES/CASE MANAGERS WHO EMPOWER 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. ADVOCATES HELP OUR SHELTER GUESTS AND RESIDENTS ACCESS THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE BY WORKING CONSISTENTLY WITH LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICE AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. OUR GOAL IS TO 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. IN 2023 WE ADDED A WOMEN'S SERVICES CLINICIAN TO OUR TEAM TO BETTER ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS AND GUESTS; THE CLINICIAN OFFERS INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT SESSIONS, CLINICAL CARE COORDINATION, AS WELL AS THERAPEUTIC GROUP PROGRAMMING IN OUR WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CENTER.REFERRAL SERVICES:WE RECEIVE A MINIMUM OF 20 - 25 CALLS, EMAILS, 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:CURRENT AND PAST RESIDENTS AND GUESTS ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNETTE RAFFERTY WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CENTER (WOMEN'S CENTER) PROGRAMS OFFERED AT ABBY'S HOUSE. WOMEN'S CENTER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE WEEKLY NUTRITIOUS MEALS, HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS, A FOOD PANTRY, COMPUTER ACCESS, 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 IS MANAGED BY TWO STAFF MEMBERS AND OVER 40 VOLUNTEERS WHO ENSURE THE NEEDS OF WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY ARE MET BY OFFERING GENTLY USED CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES. 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. THE SHOP IS CURRENTLY OPEN MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY FROM 10 AM - 3 PM AND SATURDAYS 10 AM - 1 PM. 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 TANGIBLE 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. ADDITIONALLY, FUNDS ARE USED TO SUPPORT THE ESCALATING COSTS OF OBTAINING PERMANENT AND STABLE HOUSING INCLUDING FIRST, LAST AND SECURITY PAYMENTS REQUIRED FOR MOVING INTO AN APARTMENT.