St. Mary's Center for Women and Children

What St. Mary's Center for Women and Children does

St. Mary's Center for Women and Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Dorchester, Massachusetts that operates a full housing continuum for women, children, and families experiencing homelessness, from emergency shelter through transitional housing to permanent supportive housing. Founded in 1993 on the institutional lineage of St. Mary's Infant Asylum and Lying-In Hospital (est. 1870s) and St. Margaret's Hospital, the organization now serves over 500 women, children, and families annually across two residential campuses in Dorchester (90 Cushing Avenue, including Margaret's House for 36 families) and East Boston (56 Havre Street, the former Crossroads Family Center subsidiary for 27 families), supplemented by permanent supportive housing at Upham's Crossing (80 families) and a forthcoming Roxbury site at 8 Notre Dame Street planned for 50 additional families.

Service delivery spans four integrated pillars: housing, behavioral health and family medicine, life skills, and education and workforce development. Adult Family Shelter programs report an 89% placement rate to permanent housing within 12 months, and 100% of residents receive a clinical assessment within two weeks of arrival. Over 1,426 hour-long behavioral health sessions are delivered annually by an in-house clinical team, with on-site family medicine provided through Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, on-site childcare through the Carolyn Lynch Children's Center, and workforce programming delivered in partnership with Breaktime, Mass Hire Career Centers, and Women's Money Matters.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining per-diem and program-funded government contracts (EOHLC, DTA, DCF, Mayor's Office of Housing) with private donations, corporate giving, foundation grants, planned giving, and event-based fundraising. The organization is currently conducting a $30 million Campaign for Women and Children to expand supportive housing capacity and renovate the Dorchester campus. No proprietary technology platform underpins the operating model; services are delivered through human case management supported by a network of more than 40 strategic and financial partners.

Name

St. Mary's Center for Women and Children

Legal name

St. Mary's Center for Women and Children

Website

https://stmaryscenterma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

St. Mary's Center for Women and Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating two Boston-area residential campuses that deliver shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, behavioral health, and workforce programming to over 500 women, children, and families experiencing homelessness annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Homelessness and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Child and Youth Services (62411), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAB

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAIANAC

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Housing, Urban Planning & Community Development

SECONDARYBPAGAJAG

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

Keywords

• Family homelessness services
• Emergency shelter programs
• Transitional housing support
• Behavioral health services
• Workforce development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Dorchester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Private Donations and Contributions: St. Mary's Center relies on private funding from individual donors, corporate partners, and foundation supporters as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to provide wraparound services for families experiencing homelessness.
2. Government Contracts: The organization operates government-funded residential shelter programs in partnership with the City of Boston and State of Massachusetts, including referrals from EOHLC, DTA, DCF, and the Mayor's Office of Housing.
3. Planned Giving: Planned giving programs allow supporters to make legacy gifts to sustain the organization's mission over time.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

St. Mary's Center for Women and Children is a multi-service nonprofit that operates residential and community programs for women, children, and families experiencing homelessness in Boston. Services span a full housing continuum — emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent housing — paired with wraparound support including behavioral health, family medicine, education, workforce development, and on-site childcare. All services are provided free of charge to residents and funded through government contracts, private donations, foundation grants, and corporate partnerships.

Product overview

St. Mary's Center for Women and Children is a multi-service nonprofit organization operating as a platform of residential programs and supportive services for women, children, and families experiencing homelessness. The organization offers shelter, transitional and permanent housing, and critical wrap-around support services through distinct programs: Adult Family Shelter Programs (Dorchester's Margaret's House and East Boston's Crossroads) serving 150 families; the Young Parenting Living Program (St. Mary's Home) for teen mothers; First Home Transitional Housing for young families; Behavioral Health and Clinical Support Services; Education and Workforce Development; and permanent housing through Upham's Crossing. All programs are supported by integrated services including on-site childcare, healthcare partnerships, and life skills training. The organization serves over 500 women, children, and families annually through four pillars of support: housing, education and employment, life skills, and behavioral health and family medicine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Margaret's House: Adult Family Shelter program at the Dorchester campus providing shelter and trauma-informed services to families experiencing homelessness.
• First Home
• Young Parenting Living Program (YPLP)
• St. Mary's Home

Products and services

• Adult Family Shelter Programs Emergency shelter programs supporting 150 families annually across Dorchester (Margaret's House) and East Boston (Crossroads Family Center), providing congregate shelter and scatter site apartments with trauma-informed services aimed at rapid rehousing.
• Young Parenting Living Program (YPLP) / St. Mary's Home

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of families placed to permanent housing within 12 months
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Boston Healthcare for the Homeless ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site partner providing family medicine and primary care medical services at SMC's Dorchester campus. Residents have access to primary care and medical services on-site, addressing physical health needs that combat typical 6-9 month waitlists in Boston.
• Boston University, Boston College, Simmons CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partners providing clinical internship opportunities and educational programming support for residents.
• UMASS Boston NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners facilitating a Maternity and Mental Health curriculum for SMC residents designed to support mothers through a healthy pregnancy and postpartum care for both mothers and their babies.
• BreaktimecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer development and job training partner providing transitional employment programming for YPLP moms. In 2022, 11 YPLP moms engaged with Breaktime programming.
• Mass Hire Career CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer development and job training partner supporting employment and workforce development for residents.
• Women's Money MattersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer development and financial literacy partner supporting residents' financial independence.
• Carolyn Lynch Children's CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site childcare partner providing affordable, accessible early education for children of residents at the Dorchester campus.
• Alma CaresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthy nutrition partner supporting food and nutrition programs for residents.
• SpoonfulsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthy nutrition partner helping reduce food waste while providing nutritious food to SMC residents.
• Women's Lunch PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthy nutrition partner providing meals and support for women in the Boston area.
• Horizons for Homeless ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteering and family engagement partner running the Playspace Program, giving volunteers the opportunity to spend two hours one evening per week with children living at SMC.
• Planning Office for Urban AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Upham's Crossing Residential, a permanent affordable housing development for 80 families in Dorchester.
• John M. Corcoran & Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Upham's Crossing Residential and founding member of St. Mary's Board of Trustees. John M. Corcoran was a guiding force in the organization's early years.
• Boston BruinsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteering and family engagement partner supporting SMC events and community activities.
• Boston Red SoxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteering and family engagement partner supporting SMC events and community activities.
• NeighborHealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteering and family engagement partner supporting community health initiatives.
• UMass BostonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteering and family engagement partner supporting community programs.
• Young LivesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteering and family engagement partner supporting young families.
• Raising a ReaderminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteering and family engagement partner supporting early literacy programs for children.
• Mothers for JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteering and family engagement partner supporting mothers in the SMC community.
• AFSCME Council 93minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteering and family engagement partner supporting SMC community activities.
• City Awake / Greater Boston Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteering and family engagement partner supporting SMC community activities and advocacy.
• National Women's Shelter NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMC's President is a member of the National Women's Shelter Network's Steering Committee, focused on raising awareness of the unique needs of women and children experiencing homelessness.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• The Greater Boston Food Bank: Largest hunger-relief organization in New England, distributing food to a network of pantries and meal programs including food access initiatives serving St. Mary's Center families. Adjacent peer given overlapping community and donor base, though focused on food rather than housing.

Direct peers

• Heading Home: Greater Boston nonprofit operating emergency shelter, transitional, and permanent supportive housing for homeless families and individuals. Directly competes for the same EOHLC/DTA referral pool and pursues the same family-homelessness outcomes.
• Rosie's Place: Boston nonprofit providing shelter, meals, and support services specifically for women experiencing poverty and homelessness. Closely comparable on women-focused mission and trauma-informed services, with a similarly broad wraparound offering.
• Pine Street Inn: Boston's largest provider of shelter, housing, and street outreach for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Most direct comparable peer in the Greater Boston family-homelessness ecosystem, with a similar continuum-of-care model and heavy government-contract revenue mix.
• HomeStart: Boston-based nonprofit focused on homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing for families and individuals. Comparable in target population (homeless families) and Boston-area geography, with overlapping referral partnerships.
• Horizons for Homeless Children: Massachusetts nonprofit providing early childhood education and the Playspace volunteer program for children living in family shelters. Already a formal partner of St. Mary's Center and operates in the same family-shelter network.
• Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program: Boston-area nonprofit providing medical, behavioral health, and dental care to homeless individuals and families, including on-site services at St. Mary's Center's Dorchester campus. Comparable in serving the same population with integrated health services.

Regional players

• On Rise (formerly City Mission Society): Boston nonprofit supporting individuals and families facing homelessness, housing instability, and economic insecurity through shelter, housing, and workforce programming. Comparable service model and Boston-area focus.
• Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless: Statewide advocacy and direct-service organization working on family homelessness policy and shelter programs. Comparable mission focus on Massachusetts family homelessness and overlapping policy/funder relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities of Boston: Archdiocese-affiliated social services agency offering shelter, family services, and refugee/immigrant programs across Eastern Massachusetts. Comparable as a faith-rooted, broad social services nonprofit operating in the same geography and serving overlapping client populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/St_MarysCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/StMarysCenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. Mary's Center for Women and Children