Transition House's shelter offers individuals and families a safe place to live for three months. We help them create a support network as they recover from abuse by connecting families to supportive services and working closely with them as they take the first steps towards a life of financial and emotional independence. We collaborate with numerous community organizations that work with our clients to help achieve these goals.

How to get into an Emergency Shelter

• Our 24 Hour Hotline offers support for individuals who may or may not be ready to leave an abusive relationship. We offer space in our shelter, if available, and we connect people with other resources in the Greater Boston area and beyond. Reach our hotline at 617-661-7203.


• We are part of the Safelink network. As part of this network, we report when we have a space available at our shelter. If a person is not willing to come to our area or it is not recommended for safety reasons, Safe Link can help find a more secure location in Massachusetts or another state. Reach Safelink toll free at 877-785-2020.

What to expect at an Emergency Shelter

• Our three-story Victorian style home has ample spaces that are shared by all program participants and their children, including two living rooms, nursery, playground, computer resource room and outdoor deck area, where we do gardening and cookouts in the summer. Every family/individual has a private room.


• Our rules and regulations ensure that program participants collaborate with each other when using the shelter’s resources. Our resources include a common kitchen, washing machine and dryer, food pantry and donations closet. Disagreements are resolved through a comprehensive conflict resolution process, based on listening to all parties involved before issuing any judgment or decision about a particular situation.


• When a new guest arrives in our program, the Transition House staff work with them to develop a detailed evaluation of their safety, financial, legal, housing, and medical needs. This evaluation helps staff guide the services that will be provided in the following 90 days. Our goal is for the program participant to be connected to all available services within the first two weeks of arrival. This includes child care, job training, education, job search services, and housing search services.


• We strive to move all shelter participants to a nine-month to two-year transitional living or supported housing program, where they can continue their search for permanent housing and receive continued support.