Mission: Casa Myrna delivers solutions to end domestic and dating violence.
Target demographics: The women we serve tend to be young, low-income, minority, and live in the Greater Boston Area. Over three-quarters of the women in our residential programs bring children, the majority of whom are six years old or younger.
Direct beneficiaries per year: In 2011, Casa Myrna provided shelter to 69 women and 65 children, including one residential program reserved exclusively for pregnant or parenting teenagers who are survivors of domestic or family violence. More than 300 women from the community access our comprehensive range of supportive services every year.
Geographic areas served: Casa Myrna provides shelter and supportive services in the Greater Boston Area and hotline services throughout the state of Massachusetts.
Programs: Residential programs:the agency has three residential (shelter) programs in the city of boston for women and children made homeless by domestic violence. Total per-night capacity is 24 women and 35 children. The mary foreman program is a short-term program providing safe housing for up to 6 months. The transitional living program and teen parenting programs are residential programs with stays up to 18 months; the latter is for pregnant and parenting teens made homeless by family or domestic violence.
supportive services:programs including community-based advocates at local courts and health centers, legal advocacy services, housing search assistance and advocacy, financial literacy/budgeting workshops and referrals to vocational and educational programs, support groups and individual counseling. Provides public awareness campaigns, outreach materials and education on the issue of domestic violence.
safelink:casa myrna operates the only statewide, multilingual, 24/7 domestic violence hotline in massachusetts. Hotline advocates provide crisis intervention, supportive listening, safety planning and referrals to domestic violence shelters and community-based programs across the state. Provides public awareness campaigns, outreach materials and education on the issue of domestic violence.
To Whom It May Concern, For many years my husband and I have supported the brilliant work of Casa Myrna, inspired by the brave and fearless work of this organization which aids women who have been victims of domestic violence, providing shelter for them and their children when they most need it. Equally important is Casa Myrna's leadership in making the taboo subject of domestic violence part of our national dialogue, lest we forget. Not a day passes where Casa Myrna and their devoted staff are not engaged in providing resources for those who need them most. We cannot emphasize the importance of their work strongly enough and urge all who can to support them however small the donation.
As New England’s leading provider of shelter and services to victims and survivors of domestic violence, Casa Myrna has changed the lives of thousands of women and children. As a funder, I am impressed by the organization's full menu of services for victims (counseling, legal assistance, housing, food, etc.) and also its educational work with teens to help end domestic violence in our comminities.
Domestic violence is an act of inflicting pain, whether physical or mental, on one or several people who are closest to us. The victims are infants, children, men, women, the elderly... There is no discrimination. The victims' fear of a new episode leaves them helpless and isolated. They "live" in a dark tunnel.
Casa Myrna and its outstanding, dedicated staff bring the light back into the lives of these women, young girls and children.
My daughter volunteers on the board and has made me aware of the good works done by Casa Myrna. I am impressed with its length of success and the scope of the work for women and families in crisis. I especially like that they list the services provided to families for a certain dollar amount.
