Day help for homeless women. Immediate and long-term support for women who are homeless or in crisis whose needs cannot be met by traditional social services.
Who We Serve
On The Rise serves women who:
-Are homeless by a broad definition of lacking a permanent, safe, secure place to live
-Are in crisis
-Have experienced traumatic physical and/or emotional abuse by people and/or systems
-Are falling through the cracks of our human service system because of the multiple and complex issues they face, and
-Are poor
These women may be straight, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. They struggle with complicated internal and external challenges that might include:
-physical medical problems
-chronic diseases
-mental health conditions
-substance use or abuse
-beginning recovery/maintaining sobriety
-legal issues (civil and/or criminal as plaintiffs or defendants)
-immigration
-few, if any, familial supports
-fear of systems
-guarded behavior
-violent behavior
-contradictory verbal and non-verbal communication
-bad luck, and experiences of discrimination, racism, sexism
WHAT WE DO
A LIFESAVING RESOURCE
On The Rise is a unique and effective day-time program that is a lifesaving resource for nearly 300 women each year who are homeless or in crisis in the Greater Boston area. Each year, approximately 90 women come to On The Rise for the first time. We serve 25-35 women daily and 80-95 women each month.
A woman’s participation is always voluntary. There is no set ‘graduation’ from On The Rise based on program outcomes; instead there are supportive relationships that stick with women through whatever it takes for her to move to new levels of self-efficacy, health, and stability.
All aspects of On The Rise’s work with women is carried out day-to-day by a team of five Community Advocates. Community Advocates are not assigned to work with a particular woman, but collaborate as a team to provide the most caring, motivational, and individualized support. The team includes both licensed social workers and staff who have come through their own experiences of homelessness, addiction, and violence.