Renewal House (Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry)

Renewal House is a ministry with women in crisis and their children. Since 1980, we have offered temporary, emergency shelter from domestic violence, and advocacy services to over one thousand women and their children. We help and support those who seek change in their lives, those who struggle on behalf of themselves and their children to be rid of the violence and chaos which have brought them to seek shelter. We shelter five families at a time in a family-like environment at a confidential location in Boston. Our approach allows for an atmosphere of safety and hope in which physical, emotional and spiritual needs are all considered significant in the healing process. The ability of women to share their journeys with one another and provide mutual support, companionship and respect through a difficult time is key to the success of our program. We believe in the capacity of the human spirit to be renewed, to revive and to find hope where hopelessness has prevailed. We wish for our guests that their sense of self-respect be preserved or renewed, that they grow to love themselves and find friendship and support with other women. We provide one-on-one advocacy for public assistance, housing, job placement and referral. We provide structured opportunities for support groups on parenting and domestic violence in an overall program rooted in love that reaches out for justice.