A Shelter Built on Compassion, Fueled by Community

Compassion. Community. Solutions.

  • What We Do

    MATS provides safe, fully furnished transitional housing to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the Monadnock region. Our shelter includes six private apartments, each offering a warm, stable environment where participants can regroup, rebuild, and work toward long-term solutions. But we offer more than shelter—we provide a path forward with personalized plans, one-on-one guidance, and support that helps participants achieve lasting stability.

  • Who We Serve

    MATS serves individuals and families across the Greater Monadnock Region, including towns such as Antrim, Bennington, Dublin, Greenfield, New Ipswich, Jaffrey, Peterborough, Sharon, and Temple. We also accept referrals from shelters throughout New Hampshire and neighboring states. We are a transitional shelter, not an emergency shelter. This distinction allows us to focus on sustained support and long-term outcomes.

  • Our Mission

    At MATS, our mission is to empower individuals experiencing homelessness by providing safe housing, compassionate support, and vital referral services. We are dedicated to raising community awareness about the realities of homelessness and advocating for lasting solutions that foster dignity, stability, and hope.

Our Story:

In 1989, a simple newspaper column opened our community’s eyes to a hidden crisis. Jim Lenane, then Director of Human Services for the Town of Peterborough, utilized his platform in the Peterborough Transcript to draw attention to the increasing number of individuals and families facing homelessness in the Monadnock region. Some were passing through, sleeping in church pews. Others were longtime residents with no place to call home.

His call to action did not go unheard. Reverend Gary Hauze of the Union Congregational Church, joined by local clergy and concerned citizens, stepped forward to help shape a community response. Among them was Lew Stone, longtime Rector of All Saints Parish in Peterborough, whose deep Episcopal faith and compassion for others made him a driving force in the creation of what became the Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter (MATS).

Lew devoted countless hours to building the organization, serving on the board, helping with strategic planning, fundraising, and, most importantly, keeping the mission centered on dignity, kindness, and hope for families in crisis. His calm and caring spirit ensured that MATS would always be about more than shelter — it would be about compassion, stability, and new beginnings.

MATS officially opened its doors in 1991, rooted in that founding spirit of faith and community. Lew’s outreach extended far beyond MATS, touching organizations such as the Grapevine, Monadnock Family Services, and Home Healthcare, Hospice, and Community Services. To honor his vision and lasting impact, we named our second building The Stone House — a tribute to the faith, compassion, and leadership that continue to guide MATS today.

Real Voices. Real Change.

At MATS, the mission goes far beyond providing shelter—it’s about restoring stability, dignity, and hope. Through powerful conversations with our Board of Directors and past participants, you’ll hear firsthand how housing transforms lives.

Powered by Local Generosity

MATS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We receive no state or federal funding. Instead, our work is made possible by the incredible generosity of local citizens, businesses, churches, service groups, and private foundations. Every donation, volunteer hour, and act of kindness fuels our mission and strengthens our community.