Services

Emergency Family Shelter 

HAWC’s Emergency Shelter Program provides safe, stable shelter to individuals and families in need who are committed to leaving abusive situations. Participants of our shelter program are able to access all of HAWC’s services while working closely with a Shelter Advocate around the participant’s unique needs and goals. This can involve support around housing stability, legal concerns, children’s supportive services, public benefits advocacy, job training and search, financial stability, mental health supportive services, and many other goals survivors might identify.

The Shelter can house up to 9 adults and 18 children, offering private bedroom space and shared living spaces for each individual/family. Participants generally stay anywhere from two weeks to six months, depending on individual circumstances. Our goal is to help participants identify their needs, goals and options in order to take critical steps to ensure safety and improve stability. Upon transitioning from the program, participants may continue to participate in HAWC’s community-based supportive services to continue this work. The emergency family shelter is a final resort for people who are in current crisis or at risk of homelessness because of domestic abuse, and space is very limited. Please consider every opportunity to stay with a safe friend or family member, or safely relocate before considering using this service. HAWC may be able to provide assistance in getting to a safe supportive resource. We partner with Safelink, Massachusetts’ statewide domestic violence housing hotline to ensure available shelter space is accessible to those who need it. 

Shelter services are welcoming to all survivors of partner abuse, and we welcome people from all races, colors, national origins, religions, genders or gender identities, familial statuses, disabilities, ancestries, ages, marital statuses, public assistance statuses, sexual orientations, veteran histories/military statuses or genetic backgrounds. The wide range of identities protected by HAWC helps contribute to a strong, curative environment, and anyone participating in the shelter program must respect this diversity.

HAWC is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. HAWC does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, status as a veteran or a member of the military, or any other characteristic protected by Massachusetts or Federal laws.