Abby Kelley Foster House Inc

Abby Kelley Foster House Inc is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter, affordable housing, advocacy, and support services to homeless, battered, and low-income women, with or without children. The mission of this organization is to empower these women to lead self-directed lives filled with dignity and hope. They achieve this by offering a range of programs that cater to the unique needs of each woman served.

Their primary program is an overnight shelter, operated year-round, seven days a week, and twenty-four hours a day. This shelter, staffed by a shelter manager, assistant manager, and numerous volunteers, provides a safe haven for women and their children. The focus is on helping the woman create a plan to address her immediate needs, such as finding long-term, stable housing either in Abby's House supportive housing or elsewhere. They also assist in accessing residential programs, like inpatient substance abuse treatment programs, when further stabilization is required for transitioning towards permanent housing. Abby's House aims to renovate the shelter building in 2023, expanding the shelter from a congregate shelter to a non-congregate shelter, providing more space and beds for those in need.

In addition to the overnight shelter, Abby Kelley Foster House Inc also offers supportive housing through seven two-bedroom apartments and 72 single room occupancy housing units in three buildings. This affordable housing specifically designed for women and children meets the needs of working women who cannot afford market-rate rent or those who are on SSI or SSDI. The organization has also completed the renovation of a nearly century-old building, adding two units of housing and upgrading the building's infrastructure, preserving this critical housing for decades to come.

Advocacy is another key aspect of Abby Kelley Foster House Inc's mission. They provide individualized services to help women identify realistic goals and provide the tools needed to achieve them. Through advocacy, they help their shelter guests and residents access wraparound services they need to survive and thrive. Abby's House works with over 120 other social services and government agencies and departments to create a seamless service provision system, supporting women in accessing the resources they need. The organization also offers referral services, providing education and information to women seeking help and connecting them with external agencies offering a range of supports.

In conclusion, Abby Kelley Foster House Inc is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter, affordable housing, advocacy, and support services to homeless, battered, and low-income women, with or without children. Their mission is to empower these women to lead self-directed lives filled with dignity and hope, offering overnight shelter, supportive housing, advocacy, and referral services to meet their unique needs.