Transition House works to prevent and end domestic violence in our community through education, outreach and intervention.  We reject the notion that domestic violence is inevitable. Instead, we strive to provide violence prevention education to children and adults, to educate the community about the realities of domestic and dating violence, and to offer viable and effective intervention strategies.  

New England's First Emergency Shelter

In 1975, two survivors of intimate partner violence opened their tiny apartment to other homeless battered women, establishing New England’s first (and the country’s second) emergency shelter for battered women and their children. Within weeks, the floors of the apartment were covered with sleeping bags and mattresses. Understanding the enormous need for safe refuge and support, these women joined with other community activists in Cambridge to purchase a building that became a permanent home for the Transition House Shelter.

Leader in Our Field

Over 35 years, Transition House has sheltered over 10,000 people.  Transition House is a historic leader in the field, innovating effective holistic services and supportive housing models for survivors of domestic violence. Transition House developed the first legal services program for battered women, a foster grandparent program, and pioneered school-based teen dating violence intervention curricula and programs. In 2003 and 2004, we dramatically expanded our housing services. Today, our core services focus on safe emergency and long-term housing to facilitate recovery from trauma along with holistic support services for adults, youth and children centered on violence prevention and skill building for life long independence.

Continuum of Care

To achieve our goals we offer long and short-term housing, holistic support services, youth violence prevention resources and community outreach to address the social impact of family and partner violence. We provide these services in a diverse and culturally sensitive setting that supports and empowers families to live safely, and access community resources, education, training and sustainable employment that will set the stage for a future free from domestic violence.