Mayor Michelle Wu today announced that Harbor House, Inc. (VPI), with support from the City of Boston and state partners, has acquired the enVision Hotel at 81 South Huntington Avenue. Building on the City’s ongoing efforts to better serve unsheltered individuals experiencing substance use disorder centered in the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. Nutrition EducationThe nutrition department at the BLC offers cooking classes, food demonstrations, food pantry bags filled with nutritious items for a balanced meal, and other food resources. We believe nutrition, access to healthy food, and education about cooking and healthy eating are critical for wellness. Our dining room also serves as an important way for our members to build community. This new transitional housing program will provide a safe, LGBTQ+ affirming environment for young adults (ages 18-24) transitioning from homelessness.
Recovery
- Unlike a shelter, this program provides residents with their own dedicated, private living units, thereby supporting the transition to self-sufficiency.
- You’ll meet Rashawn, a man who found support and community in an unlikely place, and Brenda, one of our Supportive Case Managers who is a force to be reckoned with.
- Graduates may choose to attend school or receive vocational training, with financial assistance provided through the Durham Rescue Mission and the GlaxoSmithKline educational endowment.
- Groups will be asked to provide in-kind donations of gift card prizes for event winners.
- Founded in 1989, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, the Boston Living Center (BLC) is New England’s largest drop-in community and resource center for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Yes, Harbor House deeply values community engagement and plans to have open dialogue with community groups and local residents. We will continue to collaborate Harbor House Review with neighborhood organizations to foster positive relationships and ensure a smooth transition for the building, its residents, and the community. In the time that Harbor House has operated this program in this location, there have been few issues with neighbors, and in each instance, we have addressed any concerns. Our Peer Leaders help other members empower themselves and develop effective strategies for living healthy lives. Our specialized, short-term treatment programs are for individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder who have additional treatment needs. Helping others overcome addictions has always been a priority for the ministry of the Durham Rescue Mission.
Search for Transitional Housing
We provide HIV, Hepatitis C, and STI testing and counseling; a healthy meals program; syringe and naloxone distribution; and an array of education, navigation, and support services. The program includes comprehensive services such as case management, mental health support, and access to medical services. These resources are tailored to help residents build skills, find employment, and achieve long-term stability. Harbor House, which has managed the existing emergency shelter, will continue to oversee both the building and the new “Visions of Victory” program.
The Victory Program: Addiction Recovery In Durham-Raleigh
- Since the start of the Mayor’s term, the City has built over 250 units of permanent supportive housing with 195 units currently under construction and another 200 units currently in the pipeline.
- Once this is done, the building will no longer operate as a traditional shelter.
- For many, Harbor House represents the last possibility for hope and the first chance for sustained success in their battles with substance use or illness.
- Building on the City’s ongoing efforts to better serve unsheltered individuals experiencing substance use disorder centered in the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.
Inside, the former hotel rooms will be converted into efficiency apartments equipped with kitchenettes, private bathrooms and living spaces. For individuals who are not HIV positive, please bring a photo ID to your intake appointment. Graduates may choose to attend school or receive vocational training, with financial assistance provided through the Durham Rescue Mission and the GlaxoSmithKline educational endowment. Below are just some of the services offered at the Victory Connector. For a more robust look of what we offer, visit our Victory Connector Connect to Services page. You will have a tour of the Center, an overview of the services available, and meet with staff to see how we can best meet your needs.
Meet Our Staff
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Previous projects indicate that permanent supportive housing is effective in helping individuals achieve stability and long-term independence by demonstrating what it feels like to have a sense of belonging. Located at the heart of the Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Blvd. neighborhood, the Victory Connector is a crucial harm reduction program designed to engage the most entrenched, street-based homeless individuals who are reluctant to connect with other systems of care. Our services range from recovery support groups like AA or Refuge Recovery to wellness and life-skill activities like resume-building workshops or yoga classes; anything that encompasses healthy and safe choices for the mind, body, and soul. For many, Harbor House represents the last possibility for hope and the first chance for sustained success in their battles with substance use or illness. Last year, 5,252 people turn to Harbor House for shelter, sustenance, recovery, care, and professional, compassionate support.
You’ll learn more about the growth Harbor House has experienced this past year. And you’ll hear from Executive Director Sarah Porter as she reflects on 50 years of Victory. We follow a low-barrier housing-first clinically driven approach to guide clients towards health and safety. All classes are geared toward the message of hope through Christ and the reshaping of the paradigm of how to handle the pressures and pains of life. Visit our Connect to Services page for an updated list of the BLC’s services.
Emergency Shelter
Our housing stabilization services, including emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing, and case management, move people off the street as quickly as possible, with as few barriers as possible. Mayor Wu is committed to making Boston a city for everyone and her administration has continued to work closely with partners to increase the availability of permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness around Boston. Since the start of the Mayor’s term, the City has built over 250 units of permanent supportive housing with 195 units currently under construction and another 200 units currently in the pipeline.
The City will continue to work closely with residents, community organizations, and elected officials to address homelessness through strategic investments in housing and health services. Our housing stabilization services, including emergency shelter, permanent housing, and case management, move people off the street as quickly as possible, with as few barriers as possible. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Addiction Services initially funded the program through December 2024. To ensure the continuation of these critical services, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) and the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH) intervened to support the acquisition and operations of the property, avoiding disruption to the lives of individuals being served. The BLC responds to the changing needs of its community through education, treatment information, and support services. Permanent supportive housing is a proven approach to addressing chronic homelessness by combining affordable housing with on-site services such as case management, mental health support, and substance use treatment.
Dr. Ernie Mills’ personal experience with the alcohol addiction of his father led him to Durham in 1973 with a hope of reaching the addicted. Today, the Victory Program helps restore the lives of dozens of men and women throughout the Triangle suffering from alcohol addiction and drug addiction. The Boston Living Center (BLC) responds to the changing needs of its community through education, treatment information, and support services. For a more robust look at our offerings, visit our BLC Connect to Services page. Wrapping services around a congregate meal, investing in community and social capital, professionalizing peers, providing a safe, non-medical place to reconnect and/or remain connected to care, have been key components of what many have found helpful, if not transformative.
Volunteering at Harbor House is a great way for your company or your community group to support Harbor House while bonding with your fellow employees or group members. If you’d like to schedule a tour of one of our programs to decide the right volunteer opportunity for your group, please email You’ll meet Rashawn, a man who found support and community in an unlikely place, and Brenda, one of our Supportive Case Managers who is a force to be reckoned with.
This model provides stability for individuals who face significant barriers to maintaining housing. Residents currently living in the site will have the option to remain as the property transitions, with new placements being coordinated through the City’s Coordinated Entry system, which ensures equitable access to housing resources for residents most in need. The program is designed to enhance neighborhood security and public health by providing reliable housing for individuals previously experiencing homelessness. This reduces strain on emergency services and helps residents reintegrate as active and positive members of the community. This major acquisition secures a vital resource for individuals experiencing homelessness and addresses the need for long-term supportive housing in Boston.
Individual Nutrition ConsultationBy appointment only.Schedule an appointment with our nutritionist for help with meal planning, securing food assistance, and addressing nutrition-related issues. They also benefit from the community aspects of congregate dining – connecting with other members and staff. Don’t hesitate to apply if your work experience doesn’t align with every qualification in the job description. Harbor House also recognizes the benefits of hiring people with lived experience who can play an important role in bridging the gap between services and the people who use them. We are committed to providing opportunities for people with lived experience to develop the skills and experience they need to achieve their career goals.
Executive Team
At Harbor House, we value your time, both at work and in your personal life, ensuring you have the resources and support you need to thrive. “Sometimes I feel so happy that my heart — I feel like I’m having like a big, good pain in my heart,” she said. “I just want to continue.” Giving the individuals that she counsels at The Victory Connector, a low-threshold navigation center in the neighborhood run by the nonprofit Harbor House, a feeling of care, a sense of calm and peace, is what she aims for each day. Harbor House operates various programs throughout Boston, all built on our strongly held belief that no person who is struggling should be asked to do the hardest thing first, on their own, before they are offered the fundamental support they truly need.
Good nutrition has the power to reduce symptoms and it can minimize medication side effects. Harbor House has officially acquired the former EnVision Hotel, which we have been operating as a shelter since 2022. We will continue to operate the shelter as we convert the building into permanent supportive housing. Once this is done, the building will no longer operate as a traditional shelter. Harbor House’ purchase of enVision Hotel was made possible through a loan from the City of Boston using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and a loan from the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC). With the acquisition of enVision Hotel, the City can continue shelter operations at a sustainable cost while planning a gradual transition of the property to permanent supportive housing over the next several years.