Welcome to HFHS!

Fun Fact: The building where HFHS is located was the original hospital in Windham! The Sisters of Charity arrived in the late 1800's from Holland with a mission to serve those in need. Being incredibly caring by nature, many Sisters became nurses who looked to provide care to people experiencing illness. As the population of Windham increased, so did the need for a larger hospital. When Windham Hospital was built in 1933, the Sisters shifted their mission to take care of the elderly. In the same fashion, as the need for elder care expanded, so did the need for a larger facility. St. Joseph's Living Center opened in 1988, leaving this building empty and needing a purpose. One night, a family knocked on the door looking for a warm bed, and the rest is history.

Holy Family Home and Shelter (HFHS) officially opened its doors in 1989 to provide emergency shelter for families in Northeast Connecticut. Over the years, HFHS expanded to include emergency and temporary housing for elderly and disabled women. One of the most unique things about HFHS is that it continues to remain a shelter for whole families, as we allow males to room here. We have provided housing to single fathers as well. We are the only shelter in this area that allows men to be housed with their family and children.

Our mission is to “compassionately empower individuals and families experiencing homelessness through support by providing emergency and temporary housing.” HFHS looks to play a supporting role in the Northeast corner of Connecticut. One of the main goals going forward is to become a beacon of hope for the community and a reputable agency that provides support to those in need beyond housing.

HFHS is open to any family in need of housing who has gone through the Connecticut 2-1-1 emergency shelter system. All shelters in Connecticut work off of the wait lists created by the 2-1-1 system. We prioritize families, especially large families where it would be difficult to accommodate them together elsewhere. Families are given private rooms where they are able to live together at HFHS. We operate just like a home. The things you would need in your home are things we need here. We are always in need of toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, laundry detergent, and other household goods. We like to keep the shelter feeling like a safe home for our guests.