2025 Annual Report
Windows of Opportunity
Women’s Lunch Place offered hope, healing, and opportunity to more than 2,300 women last year. Each guest’s story is unique, but many share common experiences.
The majority of guests have disabilities, and 66% are over the age of 50.
At least 90% have experienced some form of trauma.
More than 50% are homeless—and of those, about 75% are considered “chronically homeless.”
To better meet their needs, last year we piloted a groundbreaking shelter-to-housing program designed specifically for women. We also expanded our advocacy team by four positions and enhanced our legal and healthcare offerings.
These changes would not have been possible without the generous support of our community, opening windows of opportunity for women in Boston. On behalf of our guests, I thank you.
Jennifer Hanlon Wigon
Chief Executive Officer
THE NEED IS GROWING: 2,300+ INDIVIDUAL WOMEN SERVED LAST YEAR
2025 Program Impact
Individualized Case Management
WLP Advocates provide expert guidance and tailored support to help each woman overcome barriers and achieve her goals.
WLP Advocates partnered with 1,275 guests.
396 guests submitted 2,078 housing applications with WLP Advocate support.
114 guests worked closely with our full-time attorney— helping to close the justice gap.
Housing & Stabilization
Intensive services—including our overnight shelter-to housing program—facilitate each woman’s transition into safe, stable housing.
WLP Advocates worked with guests to prevent 181 evictions.
83 guests improved their housing situation.
Our new 50-bed transitional shelter opened in January 2025.
Healthcare
Innovative in-house medical services respond to women’s physical and mental health needs.
303 guests attended 1,616 in-house medical visits.
Guests participated in recovery & empowerment groups 1,448 times.
64 guests participated in mental health clinician visits—overcoming a severe shortage among community-based providers.
Day Shelter Services
Trauma-informed staff address survival needs while building trust and fostering hope in a safe, women-focused environment.
Six days per week, showers, laundry facilities, computers, phone lines, mail services and cellphone charging stations are available to our guests.
Guests participated in economic self-sufficiency, personal growth and wellbeing programs 2,200+ times.
Healthy Meals
Nourishing meals, served with dignity, alleviate food insecurity and provide a gateway to critical services.
Our kitchen prepared 165,718 meals (about 500 per day).
Our volunteers gave more than 18,000 hours of volunteer time— equivalent to 12 full-time staff members!
A Room of Her Own
In January 2025, WLP welcomed 50 women into rooms of their own. Our innovative shelter-to-housing model offers an exit route from the grueling cycles that can trap women in poverty and homelessness.
Each guest has her own furnished room with access to extensive support services that provide:
immediate safety from the daily toll of living on the streets or in mixed-gender shelters;
stability and flexibility to set their work schedules—broadening options for employment; and
partnership with a WLP Advocate who guides her through the complex process of accessing permanent housing.
After almost a year of successful operation, we have expanded this program to serve 65 women. This is an exciting new step for Women’s Lunch Place. With support from our partners and community, we are driving lasting solutions for women across the community.
Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Overview
Last year, we received nearly $9.8 million in financial contributions from 5,535 supporters.
A major gift generated a surplus that facilitated the growth of our housing and stabilization program. Our largest source of support is our generous community of individuals.
