WORCESTER – When Annette Rafferty founded Abby’s House in June 1976, her plans for the nonprofit lay no more than 30 days in the future.
The Worcester native, now 96, then in her mid-40s, scraped together funds to rent out a building at 23 Crown St., converting the structure into a nine-bed women’s shelter. Her certainty that women were struggling and needed help superseded any doubt about how, and for how long, she could provide that assistance.
“This was new territory for us, but we knew the problem needed a solution so we stepped up.” Abby’s House’s Senior Director of Development and Communications Jennifer Spicer said of the women who founded the nonprofit. “We’ll get enough money to put a month’s lease down, and then once we get a month we’ll get another month.”
With the purchasing of new buildings, renovations of old ones and help from generations of volunteers, those months have stretched into years — 50 to be exact. The nonprofit is set to celebrate the milestone with a gala in May.
“That we’re here five decades later is a testament to the resilience, courage and grit these individuals really put in to get us here,” Spicer said.
While originally founded to confront a growing homelessness problem with temporary shelter, Abby’s House has expanded to provide affordable housing units. Women and their children, who have no other place to go, can rent out a unit at an affordable rate. Each woman is assigned an advocate who helps them identity and achieve goals.
Over the years, more than 16,000 women have received help from the organization, named for 19th-century Worcester abolitionist and suffragette Abby Kelley Foster.
Rafferty’s beliefs, like Foster’s, did not garner universal endorsement. When Rafferty returned to the commission that had tasked her with researching the city’s homelessness problem with findings that many women were struggling, it refused to act.
Rafferty resigned and founded Abby’s House.
Spicer said that the spirit of continuing to serve women despite evolving hurdles lives on at the organization. They are celebrating their 50th anniversary with a sobering look at the challenges to come.
Citing a “catastrophic” affordable housing crisis and the dismissal of women’s needs and achievements by some elected officials, Spicer said it is a difficult time for women. The wait list to get a spot at Abby’s House continues to grow.
“There are a lot of systems in place but none of them are really geared towards women — they’re a second thought.”
The magnitude of need is matched only by the organizations steadfast commitment to meet it, she said.
“Change is inevitable and if were not changing with the times, then we are behind. And our women deserve better than that. They need us to be at the forefront of what is happening so we can continue to help them.”
In the next 50 years, Abby’s House hopes to keep expanding with the purchase of more affordable units in the city, Spicer said.
The latest tribulations have imbued a heightened importance on the year’s celebrations.
“We’ve had people ask, ‘How can I celebrate when everything feels so off right now?’ And our message back is that we have to celebrate because it’s the love that is going to get us through these difficult parts.”
Spicer emphasized that no one type of woman walks through the doors of Abby’s House, a reminder of how delicate the line can be between security and instability. A variety of circumstances, including family illness, an unexpected injury, divorce or the rising cost of living, can lead to a woman losing her housing.
“The most important part is meeting women where they are and realizing that it can happen to anyone,” Spicer said.
Armed with that scene of shared humanity, staff and volunteers at Abby’s House talk to each woman to learn about their unique set of circumstances, Spicer said.
“It’s about feeling seen.”
To commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8, Abby’s House launched a postcard campaign. The nonprofit is giving out wallet cards in exchange for a donation. Donors are meant to keep one card, which includes a quote from Foster, and give the second one away in a “ripple of support.”
For other community members looking to support the nonprofit, Spicer said there are a variety of options. Abby’s House accepts donations in the form of money, household goods or clothing for its thrift shop.
Rachel Gow, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Jennifer Spicer is the Senior Director of Development and Communications at Abby’s House. She leads the organization’s fundraising, communications, and engagement efforts with a strategic and mission-driven approach, helping to amplify Abby’s House’s impact while building strong relationships with donors, partners, and the community. Jennifer is deeply committed to advancing equity, dignity, and long-term stability for the women and families Abby’s House serves. Connect with Jennifer today!
About Abby’s House
Abby’s House is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter, affordable housing, and advocacy services to women and children experiencing homelessness and housing instability. For 50 years, Abby’s House has remained committed to creating safe, supportive environments where women receive resources they need to build self-directed live. Grounded in principles of DEI, accessibility, antiracism, and belonging, our work is guided by a deep commitment to advancing social justice and strengthening our community.
In 2026, Abby’s House proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary honoring five decades of impact while looking ahead to the future of our mission. To mark this milestone, we invite you to join us at our 50th Anniversary Gala, where everyone that has been a part of the Abby’s House story will come together to celebrate what has been accomplished and look forward to what is to come for the women and children we serve. Your participation helps open the door to opportunity. We hope to see you there.
Learn more about our work, attend the gala, or make a difference today.