Advocates for women in crisis.

Our Advocates help guests overcome the many barriers caused by poverty and homelessness.

 
 

Women work closely with WLP Advocates to secure permanent housing and prevent eviction, connect with medical care, mental health resources, and substance-use disorder treatment. WLP has a full-time attorney dedicated to addressing the legal issues our guests face.

WLP’s trained Advocates also provide assistance finding shelter beds, emergency housing, permanent housing, benefits, employment, fleeing domestic violence and other solutions to complex, long-term issues. Last year, our Advocates met with 875 guests on 7,026 occasions to address 10,268 issues. Advocates filed over 1,844 housing applications and helped 250 women secure housing or prevent eviction.

Our Outreach Advocacy program has evolved into a permanent Housing Stabilization tool to ensure guests are supported and remain successfully housed. Since the inception of the program in July 2020, we have housed 173 women from homelessness and enrolled them in stabilization services. A remarkable 167 women (97%) have remained in their homes.

Women in crisis receive emergency services at WLP – followed by connection with treatment programs and specialists. On-site medical care from Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program is provided five days a week, and we triage with mental health providers and substance abuse recovery programs to ensure that our guests receive the help they need and want.

Across the board, volunteer attorneys, college interns, and social workers complement staff services with generous donations of their time and expertise.

 
 

The Resource Center & Empowerment Center at WLP has computers, phones, paper, and other basic office supplies available for guests searching for employment and/or housing. We also a have a classroom where guests can gather for digital literacy courses and other educational sessions.

Classes are offered on a variety of topics, including:

  • literacy

  • computer skills

  • housing and legal issues

  • employment

  • financial literacy

  • emotional regulation

  • stress reduction

The Susannah Waldo Wood Reading Room is a quiet space for guests to sit and read or browse for books to take with them.