Program areas at WLP
Meals: hunger and food insecurity are the primary reasons women come to eat the hearty, healty, and delicious food that relieves their pangs of hunger and meets the nutritional needs for women with little or no other access to good food. Each day starts with fresh fruit and hot cereal that gives women energy and determination to improve their lives in other ways. Lunches are served restaurant-style and always include a lean protein entre, a vegetarian option, whole grains, vegetables, salad, fruit, and dessert. Meals are enjoyed in a warm, welcoming dining community where staff and volunteers take time to engage with guests to help solve problems and develop positive relationships.
Advocacy: advocates meet individually giving expert advice and assistance on housing, mental health, finances, and other critical concerns. We visit women hospitalized or homebount, and accompany women to medical, housing, and legal appointmnets. Emergency funds pay for urgent utility bills, back rent, prescriptions, transportation to appointments, and more. Preventing homelessness is a priority so we work with every woman recently housed to live on a budget, help those at risk of eviction, or need to move from unsafe or substandard housing, and those who do not qualify for public housing assistance. An advocate helps homeless guests complete applications and handle the complicated and lengthy process to obtain low income housing.
Guest services: all services and care are given in a trauma-informed manner. The shelter is open monday through saturday, throughout the year, from 7 am to 2 pm. We provide hot showers, laundry, toiletries and emergency clothing, basic needs all while coordinating and delivering effective services that help women achieve greater stability. Free on-site medical care is provided by boston healthcare for the homeless. We offer helath & wellness workshops, group outings, support groups, art classes, meditation, literacy & writing classes, and much more to empower women. Monthly birthday parties & holidays are celebrated with festive meals and gifts.
Wellness medical professionals offer guests free, on-site healthcare services for urgent and chronic health conditions. We offer dual recovery programming for guests with mental illness and substance use disorders--at least one recovery class is available every day, six days a week. A psychiatric nurse practitioner, behavioral health clinician, and clinical psychiatrist assist our guests by building trusting relationships, conducting soft assessments, and crafting individualized plans. Wlp also provides referrals and direct entry to hospitals and outside programs. Wlp's integrated wellness programming also includes therapeutic art and movement classes that are specifically designed to boost our guests' mind-body connection, improve their mental health, and develop their emotional regulation.