The Need and Our Impact

Homelessness*

When we opened our doors in 1976, we believed homelessness could be solved—that with enough care and support, every woman in Worcester would have a safe place to call home.

Nearly 50 years later, the need has only grown.

On a single night in 2024, 771,480 people—about 23 out of every 10,000 people in the United States—were experiencing homelessness. This represents the highest number ever recorded, with a continued rise in recent years.

Families are being hit especially hard. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of people in families with children experiencing homelessness increased by 39% in Massachusetts, one of the largest increases nationwide.

Here in Massachusetts, the crisis is even more concentrated. On a single night in 2024, half of all families experiencing homelessness in the United States were living in just three states: New York, California, and Massachusetts—placing our community at the center of a national emergency.

Behind every number is a woman making impossible choices—between safety and stability, between tonight and tomorrow.

Note: The most recent official federal data is from 2024. HUD releases annual statistics after local counts are collected, verified, and standardized, so 2025 data will be available later this year.

*Homelessness statistics are from the 2024 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Housing*

For many women and families, homelessness doesn’t begin with a crisis—it begins with rent.

Across the country, there simply isn’t enough housing that people with the lowest incomes can afford. Nationally, a full-time worker must earn $32.11 per hour to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment—far beyond what most essential jobs pay.

In Massachusetts, the gap is even more extreme. A worker must earn $45.90 per hour—nearly three times the minimum wage—to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment.

Closer to home in the Worcester area, a modest two-bedroom apartment rents for approximately $1,650–$1,900 per month, requiring an hourly wage of about $31–$32 to afford. By comparison, the typical renter earns just $18–$19 per hour, meaning many must work nearly 70 hours per week to afford housing without being cost-burdened.

For those with the lowest incomes, the math is even starker. Affordable monthly rent is approximately:

• $780/month for a full-time minimum wage worker

• ~$950/month for households at 30% of area median income

• ~$1,300/month for the average renter

• ~$320/month for someone relying on Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

When rent rises faster than wages, housing becomes unstable—and when housing becomes unstable, homelessness follows.

*Housing statistics are based on the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach reports (2024–2025) and regional fair market rent estimates.

Since we began in 1976, we’ve helped more than 16,145 women and their children reclaim and rebuild their lives.

Programs

• 28 women and 22 children housed in Shelter
• 624 nights in Shelter
• 4,239 meals provided
• 95 women and children housed outside of Shelter

Advocacy

• 1,510 individual advocacy sessions
• $2800 in vouchers to the Thrift Shop were given to women from the community in need of clothing

The Annette Rafferty Survive to Thrive Fund (ARST)

In 2025, over $15,000 was distributed through ARST to help women break the cycle of poverty. These funds provide critical support for education and vocational training, transportation like bus passes, and essential medical and dental care helping women move toward long-term financial stability.

ARST supports women as they navigate unexpected or increased expenses they cannot cover on their own, such as…

• Rental Assistance
• Transportation Costs
• Uncovered Medical & Dental Care (critical procedures not covered by insurance, or care needed during gaps in coverage that would otherwise go untreated)
• Essential Documentation Costs (such as ID replacements and birth certificate copies required for housing, employment, and access to services)
• Job Trainings
• College Courses

Because when these barriers are removed, women are able to focus on what matters most: building stability, independence, and a future of their own.

Looking ahead, ARST will continue to evolve to meet the needs of the women we serve. Beginning in 2026, funds will also support stipends for residents who complete Abby’s House’s training program, recognizing their hard work and helping them take the next step toward financial independence.