Harbor House homeless women, pregnant women and their children, Boston, MA 02118

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. 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 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, Harbor 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 Harbor House for shelter, sustenance, recovery, care, and professional, compassionate support.

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 program is designed to enhance neighborhood security and public health by providing reliable housing for individuals previously experiencing homelessness. This reduces strain on emergency services and helps residents reintegrate as active and positive members of the community. This major acquisition secures a vital resource for individuals experiencing homelessness and addresses the need for long-term supportive Harbor House Review housing in Boston.

Inside, the former hotel rooms will be converted into efficiency apartments equipped with kitchenettes, private bathrooms and living spaces. For individuals who are not HIV positive, please bring a photo ID to your intake appointment. Graduates may choose to attend school or receive vocational training, with financial assistance provided through the Durham Rescue Mission and the GlaxoSmithKline educational endowment. Below are just some of the services offered at the Victory Connector. For a more robust look of what we offer, visit our Victory Connector Connect to Services page. You will have a tour of the Center, an overview of the services available, and meet with staff to see how we can best meet your needs.

Victory Connector

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 Harbor House staff, including case management, residential assistance, and medical and mental health services. 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.

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. 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.

• The Boston Living Center (BLC) responds to the changing needs of its community through education, treatment information, and support services.
• 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.
• During this time, residents continue to live in one of our men’s or women’s shelters in the Raleigh-Durham area while they work to obtain permanent employment, save needed start-up funds, seek affordable housing, and continue educational and vocational classes.
• Our goal is to create a safe, welcoming space for individuals from all backgrounds who are navigating addiction recovery.

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. Don’t hesitate to apply if your work experience doesn’t align with every qualification in the job description. Harbor House also recognizes the benefits of hiring people with lived experience who can play an important role in bridging the gap between services and the people who use them. We are committed to providing opportunities for people with lived experience to develop the skills and experience they need to achieve their career goals.

Connect

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. The program includes comprehensive services such as case management, mental health support, and access to medical services. These resources are tailored to help residents build skills, find employment, and achieve long-term stability. Harbor House, which has managed the existing emergency shelter, will continue to oversee both the building and the new “Visions of Victory” program.

Men & Women

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. 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.

Emergency Shelter

Yes, Harbor House deeply values community engagement and plans to have open dialogue with community groups and local residents. We will continue to collaborate with neighborhood organizations to foster positive relationships and ensure a smooth transition for the building, its residents, and the community. In the time that Harbor House has operated this program in this location, there have been few issues with neighbors, and in each instance, we have addressed any concerns. Our Peer Leaders help other members empower themselves and develop effective strategies for living healthy lives. Our specialized, short-term treatment programs are for individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder who have additional treatment needs. Helping others overcome addictions has always been a priority for the ministry of the Durham Rescue Mission.

Trained staff will continue to be on site 24/7 to provide support and ensure a safe environment for the residents and the neighborhood. For many, Harbor House represents the last possibility for hope and the first chance for sustained success in their battles with addiction or illness. We provide individuals and their families with the education, tools, and ongoing support they need to help them regain their health, prevent and manage relapse, and maximize their independence. During this time, residents continue to live in one of our men’s or women’s shelters in the Raleigh-Durham area while they work to obtain permanent employment, save needed start-up funds, seek affordable housing, and continue educational and vocational classes. 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.

Bring some fun and joy to a program by hosting a trivia or bingo event! Groups will be asked to provide in-kind donations of gift card prizes for event winners. Up to 20 people in a group for two-hour shifts in Back Bay and Roxbury. Harbor House provides housing opportunities regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, familial status or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

• This reduces strain on emergency services and helps residents reintegrate as active and positive members of the community.
• Harbor House is a Boston-based organization dedicated to opening doors to hope, recovery, and community for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, addiction, or chronic health challenges.
• Harbor House, which has managed the existing emergency shelter, will continue to oversee both the building and the new “Visions of Victory” program.
• Individual Nutrition ConsultationBy appointment only.Schedule an appointment with our nutritionist for help with meal planning, securing food assistance, and addressing nutrition-related issues.
• When individuals and families are safely housed, they’re much more likely to address their physical and mental health, addictions, and other issues.

Mayor Michelle Wu today announced that Harbor House, Inc. (VPI), with support from the City of Boston and state partners, has acquired the enVision Hotel at 81 South Huntington Avenue. Building on the City’s ongoing efforts to better serve unsheltered individuals experiencing substance use disorder centered in the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. Nutrition EducationThe nutrition department at the BLC offers cooking classes, food demonstrations, food pantry bags filled with nutritious items for a balanced meal, and other food resources. We believe nutrition, access to healthy food, and education about cooking and healthy eating are critical for wellness. Our dining room also serves as an important way for our members to build community. This new transitional housing program will provide a safe, LGBTQ+ affirming environment for young adults (ages 18-24) transitioning from homelessness.

Careers

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 City will continue to work closely with residents, community organizations, and elected officials to address homelessness through strategic investments in housing and health services. Our housing stabilization services, including emergency shelter, permanent housing, and case management, move people off the street as quickly as possible, with as few barriers as possible. 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. The BLC responds to the changing needs of its community through education, treatment information, and support services. 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.

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