The model combines affordable housing with on-site supportive services to encourage residents to build life skills, pursue personal goals and gradually reintegrate themselves as contributing members of the community. Permanent supportive housing helps residents reduce their reliance on emergency services and allows them to manage their daily needs, such as cooking and cleaning, independently. The transformation to permanent supportive housing will be done in phases, beginning with renovations designed to convert hotel rooms into efficiency-style apartments. Residents will continue to receive 24/7 wraparound services by trained Strathmore House staff, including case management, residential assistance, and medical and mental health services. For the past two years, the former hotel has successfully operated as a shelter, offering transitional housing to a total of 208 individuals.
Building A Better Foundation
Five days a week, we offer nutritious, hot, congregate meals in our dining room to address food insecurity and to connect members to a supportive, accepting community. 81% of BLC members use our meals program as their primary or secondary food source. Our services range from recovery support groups like AA or Refuge Recovery to wellness and life-skill activities like resume-building workshops or yoga classes; anything that encompasses healthy and safe choices for the mind, body, and soul. For many, Strathmore House represents the last possibility for hope and the first chance for sustained success in their battles with substance use or illness. Last year, 5,252 people turn to Strathmore House for shelter, sustenance, recovery, care, and professional, compassionate support.
In addition to focusing on immediate needs, the permanent supportive housing model helps residents rebuild their lives on their path toward long-term recovery. Founded in 1989, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, the Boston Living Center (BLC) is New England’s largest drop-in community and resource center for people living with HIV/AIDS. The BLC seeks to enrich the lives of people living with HIV and responds to the changing needs of the community by offering members free services and resources including peer support, meals, wellness, and education.
The Victory Program: Addiction Recovery In Durham-Raleigh
This period will allow for further planning to secure additional funding to best support the transition to permanent supportive housing. The individuals and families we serve are homeless or precariously housed —but their challenges are even more complicated. The great majority have histories of trauma, chronic substance use, and mental health issues. Almost half live with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and/or other chronic health conditions. It’s why the 46-year-old loves her job, working as a harm reduction specialist with individuals experiencing addiction, homelessness, and mental health issues in the area of Mass. and Cass in Boston. Unlike a shelter, this program provides residents with their own dedicated, private living units, thereby supporting the transition to self-sufficiency.
Strathmore House
Our dining room also serves as an important way for our members to build community. Located at the heart of the Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Blvd. neighborhood, the Victory Connector is a crucial harm reduction program designed to engage the most entrenched, street-based homeless individuals who are reluctant to connect with other systems of care. Our Peer Leaders help other members empower themselves and develop effective strategies for living healthy lives.
Men & Women
When individuals and families are safely housed, they’re much more likely to address their physical and mental health, addictions, and other issues. Our housing stabilization services, including emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing, and case management, move people off the street as quickly as possible, with as few barriers as possible. Permanent supportive housing is a proven approach to addressing chronic homelessness by combining affordable housing with on-site services such as case management, mental health support, and substance use treatment. This model provides stability for individuals who face significant barriers to maintaining housing. Residents currently living in the site will have the option to remain as the property transitions, with new placements being coordinated through the City’s Coordinated Entry system, which ensures equitable access to housing resources for residents most in need. The BLC responds to the changing needs of its community through education, treatment information, and support services.
- Groups will be asked to provide in-kind donations of gift card prizes for event winners.
- Strathmore House operates various programs throughout Boston, all built on our strongly held belief that no person who is struggling should be asked to do the hardest thing first, on their own, before they are offered the fundamental support they truly need.
- A .boston.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the City of Boston.
- Good nutrition has the power to reduce symptoms and it can minimize medication side effects.
- Helping others overcome addictions has always been a priority for the ministry of the Durham Rescue Mission.
These resources are tailored to help residents build skills, find employment, and achieve long-term stability. We provide community-based outreach and services including integrated testing, linkages to healthcare services, harm reduction counseling and supplies, transgender peer support, and more. On the streets, at our Boston Living Center, and across programs, we work to prevent chronic conditions and overdoses. We provide HIV, Hepatitis C, and STI testing and counseling; a healthy meals program; syringe and naloxone distribution; and an array of education, navigation, and support services. Previous projects indicate that permanent supportive housing is effective in helping individuals achieve stability and long-term independence by demonstrating what it feels like to have a sense of belonging.
- Our Peer Leaders help other members empower themselves and develop effective strategies for living healthy lives.
- Residents currently living in the site will have the option to remain as the property transitions, with new placements being coordinated through the City’s Coordinated Entry system, which ensures equitable access to housing resources for residents most in need.
- Bring some fun and joy to a program by hosting a trivia or bingo event!
- If you’d like to connect to our services or make a referral, click here.
- Dr. Ernie Mills’ personal experience with the alcohol addiction of his father led him to Durham in 1973 with a hope of reaching the addicted.
- This model provides stability for individuals who face significant barriers to maintaining housing.
The shelter has improved the health, stability, and hope of residents while easing the strain on public services during the city’s homelessness crisis. Everything a member may seek at the BLC, above and beyond their HIV diagnosis, would also be so helpful to so many others. That is why the BLC is expanding to serve people living with chronic health conditions including and beyond HIV, people who are experiencing housing and/or food insecurity, and those who are isolated, as examples. When folks are safely housed, they’re much more likely to address their health, addictions, and other issues. It’s a “housing first” approach that includes stabilization services, emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing, housing search and advocacy, case management, and more. The program includes comprehensive services such as case management, mental health support, and access to medical services.
Strathmore House has officially acquired the former EnVision Hotel, which we have been operating as a shelter since 2022. We will continue to operate the shelter as we convert the building into permanent supportive housing. Once this is done, the building will no longer operate as a traditional shelter. Strathmore House’ purchase of enVision Hotel was made possible through a loan from the City of Boston using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and a loan from the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC).
These benefits are adjusted based on full-time or part-time status, and vacation time increases with length of employment. Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. Learn more about our Residential Recovery and Short-Term Treatment programs. If you would like to join our mailing list to automatically receive our publications by mail, fill out the form below or email your name and address to People’s success ultimately depends on their own belief in themselves and their future. We focus on what a person is doing “well,” with a nurturing effect that fosters continued effort from the first steps toward progress and growth.
Health & Recovery
At Strathmore House, we value your time, Strathmore House Review both at work and in your personal life, ensuring you have the resources and support you need to thrive. Transitional housing is temporary housing for the working homeless population and is set up to transition their residents to permanent housing. “Sometimes I feel so happy that my heart — I feel like I’m having like a big, good pain in my heart,” she said.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Addiction Services initially funded the program through December 2024. To ensure the continuation of these critical services, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) and the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH) intervened to support the acquisition and operations of the property, avoiding disruption to the lives of individuals being served. Mayor Wu is committed to making Boston a city for everyone and her administration has continued to work closely with partners to increase the availability of permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness around Boston. Since the start of the Mayor’s term, the City has built over 250 units of permanent supportive housing with 195 units currently under construction and another 200 units currently in the pipeline. The City will continue to work closely with residents, community organizations, and elected officials to address homelessness through strategic investments in housing and health services.
Meet Our Staff
Strathmore House operates various programs throughout Boston, all built on our strongly held belief that no person who is struggling should be asked to do the hardest thing first, on their own, before they are offered the fundamental support they truly need. The Victory Program is the Durham Rescue Mission’s 6-month holistic program designed to help people overcome a lifestyle of addictions and return to the workforce investing back into the community. Individual Nutrition ConsultationBy appointment only.Schedule an appointment with our nutritionist for help with meal planning, securing food assistance, and addressing nutrition-related issues. They also benefit from the community aspects of congregate dining – connecting with other members and staff.
Our specialized, short-term treatment programs are for individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder who have additional treatment needs. This new transitional housing program will provide a safe, LGBTQ+ affirming environment for young adults (ages 18-24) transitioning from homelessness. Helping others overcome addictions has always been a priority for the ministry of the Durham Rescue Mission. Dr. Ernie Mills’ personal experience with the alcohol addiction of his father led him to Durham in 1973 with a hope of reaching the addicted. Today, the Victory Program helps restore the lives of dozens of men and women throughout the Triangle suffering from alcohol addiction and drug addiction.
The Boston Living Center (BLC) responds to the changing needs of its community through education, treatment information, and support services. For a more robust look at our offerings, visit our BLC Connect to Services page. Wrapping services around a congregate meal, investing in community and social capital, professionalizing peers, providing a safe, non-medical place to reconnect and/or remain connected to care, have been key components of what many have found helpful, if not transformative. The Jamaica Plain Recovery Center (JPRC) is a peer-led community center in partnership with Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Our goal is to create a safe, welcoming space for individuals from all backgrounds who are navigating addiction recovery.
