On The Rise

CONTACT:

341 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 497-7968
www.ontherise.org

Katya Fels, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

Homeless women are almost always facing multiple issues, such as mental illness, addiction, other medical concerns, legal problems, and either current or past violence and physical abuse—74 to 89% have abuse histories, and in one study more than 40% were both mentally ill and abusing alcohol or drugs. Very few agencies are willing or able to deal with all these kinds of issues simultaneously. On The Rise was therefore founded in 1995 to help these women, many of whom have nowhere else to turn. It serves more nearly 300 women each year, empowering them to find safety.

Unlike many other programs, On The Rise offers a low-threshold entry that provides safety, stability, and community to women who cannot find them elsewhere. The program’s daytime Safe Haven provides a home-like place where women can shower, eat, nap, or get fresh clothing. Over time, they build trusting relationships with a diverse team of outreach workers who provide in-depth, long-term support, including specialized programs that the women may have been unable or unwilling to use before, e.g. substance abuse treatment, legal services, child care, medical care, state aid, domestic violence services, job training, and housing search. This patience gives participants the “breathing room” they need to escape immediate crises on the street, while increasing their self-confidence and building mutual support in a diverse company of women worthy of trust.

(2000: HUMAN SERVICES: Girls and Women: General)