Shelter for Women

Each year, Operation Hope shelters more than 35 women who are homeless. Our five-bed shelter opened in 1990, two years after the Shelter for Men. Our experience in sheltering men led us to understand that there were many women in need as well. In fact, there are always more women in need than there are beds. The available space at 50 Nichols Street allows us to provide respite for just five women each night. The Shelter is virtually always at capacity with others waiting for a bed to become available.

In addition to a safe, warm place to stay, the Shelter program also provides three meals a day, showers, laundry facilities, clothing, and social contact. Our Shelter guests have access to phones, health screening, computer training, transportation assistance and other services to meet their basic needs. Most of the women who stay with us participate in our Readiness Project, an intense, comprehensive support program geared to help them address the root causes of their homelessness, and to achieve increased stability and self-reliance.

Our Shelter is staffed by a team whose role is to welcome, support and encourage our guests. Many of the women who stay at the Shelter struggle with addictions (80%) and mental health disorders (50%). Much of the time, both types of disorders are present, along with physical disabilities and neglected health conditions. This makes recovery and stability even more difficult. Many of the women we serve are survivors of sexual, physical and emotional abuse. Some of the other areas of our guests' concern include insufficient income/employment and education, estranged personal relationships including those with children, legal problems, debt, and basic living skills deficits. Operation Hope helps each guest identify their needs and goals, and then supports them in taking steps to achieve their individual potential.

Each year more than 80% of our Shelter guests move on to permanent and transitional housing.