Rosie's place

a sanctuary for poor and homeless women

Linked with Kip Tiernan – USA, and with Why are people homeless.

Rosie’s Place, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women, offers both emergency and long-term assistance to women who have nowhere else to turn.  Established in 1974, Rosie’s Place is committed to welcoming each guest with respect and unconditional love.  Rosie’s Place accepts no government funds, and relies instead on committed volunteers and private supporters to accomplish its effective and innovative work. (Homepage).

General information;
Online giving;
Programs;
Events: Friday, December 19, 2008 /7:00 p.m.;
The women’s craft cooperative;
news and media;
the tour;
Advocacy;
Childworks;
Kip Tiernan Fellowship;
Newsletter Archive;
Address: Rosie’s Place, 889 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA, 02118, USA;
Contact: Tel 617-442-9322, Fax 617-442-7825, on the website.

About /Fact Sheet: Since 1974 poor and homeless women have found an oasis of hope and nourishment at Rosie’s Place.  The mission of Rosie’s Place is to help women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives.


Many of the women we assist are working and in housing but simply can’t make ends meet.  Some are newly homeless, while others women have been living on the streets for years.  We serve women as young as 18 and as old as 80.  Approximately one-third of our guests have children.  Rosie’s Place serves guests from a wide variety of ethnic groups, with the majority being African American, Hispanic, Haitian, or White.  Some of our guests are living with HIV/AIDS or have hidden disabilities such as addiction or mental illnesses that prevent them from effectively integrating into society.

With the help of people who believe change is possible and share our vision of justice, Rosie’s Place has accomplished amazing things, both big and small.  Each year:

  • 74,000 nutritionally balanced meals are served in our warm and cheery dining room.
  • 800 women choose free non-perishable food items and fresh produce from our Groceries program each month.
  • Rosie’s Place’s advocates help close to 3,000 women access services at Rosie’s Place and other public and private programs.  Assistance may include clothing, housing, medical services, educational and employment opportunities, legal advice, transportation, and emergency funds for eviction prevention and prescriptions.
  • More than 500 women find safety and nurturing in our emergency and short-term housing, while advocates work with them to find permanent homes and secure the services they need.
  • Advocates help more than 100 women find a home of their own and avoid eviction.
  • 23 women find supportive, long-term housing in two locations through Rosie’s Place Permanent Housing Program.
  • The Homelessness Prevention Initiative provides outreach to more than 130 women at risk of losing housing due to chronic mental illness.
  • The Adult Education program provides more than 150 women with an opportunity to improve their skills and increase their self-sufficiency.  We offer free ESL, GED preparation and Literacy courses all within our familiar and supportive environment.
  • The Women’s Craft Cooperative, a successful micro-enterprise, employs women for their handcrafted work while providing critical job readiness skills.
  • The Public Policy program works within the larger socio-political context by representing the interests of Rosie’s Place guests at the State House through direct lobbying, coalition building and by empowering guests and Rosie’s Place supporters to be actively involved in advocacy.
  • On-site workshops and services are available free of charge, in the safe and familiar setting of Rosie’s Place.  Women gain access to experts in the fields of legal services, healthcare and more.
  • Volunteers provided over 57,000 hours of service.  This is the equivalent of 28 full-time employees.

Rosie’s Place continues to rely solely on the enthusiasm of our volunteers and the generous support of individuals, foundations, and corporations.  We do not accept funding from the city, state or federal governments or the United Way.  Thanks to these generous donations, 87 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to services for women and their children.