The Open Hearth Associaton

Since 1884, we have provided a temporary residential community environment to serve homeless men in Greater Hartford.

Our Emergency Shelter is the oldest continuously operating facility of its kind on the east coast, founded in 1884. The Shelter operates from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 365 days a year, with a capacity of 25 beds. Guests enjoy relief from the elements, shower facilities, and a hot, nutritious dinner and breakfast. Furthermore, shelter guests, many of whom enter our doors with psychiatric disabilities, have access to a Master's level Mental Health Counselor. They receive community referrals vital to placing them on the path towards recovery from homelessness and the dangers associated with the streets. In addition, they are eligible to enter our Transitional Living Program and many do so. Those who do not proceed to the TLP are referred to other agencies for substance abuse treatment or mental health services.

Transitional Living Programs

We are an 84 bed program for homeless and formerly incarcerated men, advocating for their recovery, work,and community integration.The dedication of our staff and the stamina and determination of our men is inextricable: we support and suggest; they labor toward the goals of education, sobriety, employment, and stable citizenship. Chronic relapsers are given another opportunity to recover 'with their own.' The sporadically employed are taught how to speak to an interviewer and rediscover a stalwart work ethic. The psychiatrically disabled are gently urged to clinical intervention. Like packages that contain limitless potential, our program carefully places men where they need to be and supervises their opening.

Substance Abuse Recovery Program

The Open Hearth is a program of recovery. If our residents cannot repudiate the cycle of addiction and homelessness, any chance of a stable, contented life is impossible. We aggressively address substance abuse, offering daily AA and NA meetings-in-house and in the community. Weekly recovery meeting are held, where residents and staff discuss recovery issues, always striving to improve and expand access to healing. A Recovery Coordinator supports and advocates for the men, researching recovery-oriented events, and handling the transportation logistics for dozens of men to community 12-Step meetings. All staff, particularly the men's counselors, commit to encouraging and monitoring their clients' sobriety.

Working Man Program

The Working Man's Center (WMC) is a systematic, formalized, step-by-step process for our clients to prepare for, pursue and find employment. Often the men who come thru our doors are not only unemployed, but unemployable. Though we offer in-house training such as ServSafe, Forklift Operator Certification, Basic Carpentry and more, the WMC is employment-driven and is as much a concept as it is a physical space.