Nature and Purpose
St. Ambrose Family Inn, a program of Catholic Charities, is a shelter in the Field's Corner neighborhood of Dorchester. Opened in 1989, the shelter can accommodate 12 families. The population is mostly women and children, but we do accept fathers with their children. There are usually 18-25 children staying at the shelter and they range in age from 0 to 17 years. The goals of the shelter are to assist families in finding safe and affordable housing, and to prepare families to live successfully and independently in their own apartments. While families stay at the Inn, they are provided with housing search assistance, social work services, comfortable rooms and nutritious meals.

Tasks
The children who live at St. Ambrose have had many disruptions in their young lives. Their parents have a difficult time coping with the instability of their situation and are struggling to keep their families together. The parents need time to search for housing, gain job skills, and complete their own formal education. One of the areas that can suffer when a family is in this difficult situation is the quality of time and attention that parents give their children. The students from PULSE can help fill this gap with the time and attention they offer the children. The PULSE students can help and encourage school age children with their homework. They can also work with the children on various kinds of arts and crafts projects. Playing with the children outside or taking them to the library, and museums are all possibilities. Whatever the activity the PULSE students do with the children, the most important thing will be the interest, patience, time and attention the children receive.

Time Requirements
The PULSE students will work on teams of 3 or 4. Teams work two days each week. Shifts are available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 4 to 7PM (occassional 5 to 8PM for events).

Supervision
Students will meet weekly with the placement supervisor. Daily support is also available from staff on duty during the students' shifts.

Supervisors
Richard Freitas

Address
St. Ambrose Family Inn
25 Leonard St.
Dorchester, MA 02122-2718 
(617) 288-7675
 

Council Member
Elizabeth Sartori

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