St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children (SMC) was founded in 1874, when an abandoned baby was left on the doorstep of a Boston church. This event led to the establishment of St. Mary's Infant Asylum, which remains at its current Dorchester location. By 1902, the center was already providing shelter and care to over 1,000 infants and 300 single mothers, many of whom had been abandoned or cast out by their families.

Today, SMC has grown and adapted to meet the evolving needs of the community, serving approximately 500 women, children, and families each year. It is now one of the largest family shelter programs in Massachusetts. The center has recently sharpened its focus on residential, educational, and employment services, all paired with case management to help women and families achieve long-term stability.

The families arriving at SMC often lack access to essential services like healthcare, education, and community support, which significantly impacts their physical and mental well-being, as well as their social and economic mobility. Many of these families come from Boston's most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, and a significant portion of young mothers are immigrants or refugees who have fled violence in their home countries.