Tacoma Rescue Mission's Family Shelter
The Family Shelter is a 71 bed facility providing emergency housing for families and single women. Our Family Life Café feeds three meals a day plus evening snacks in a cheerful and warm dining atmosphere.
Along with the basic essentials, of food, clothing, shelter, and laundry facilities, we offer loving accountability that builds lives for a more successful future. Our case managers help bring stability and resources for clients to transition into housing and jobs.
Classes are available for basic adult education, inspiration, and vital life skills such as finance, parenting, nutrition, and cooking. We offer daily encouragement through counseling, spiritual guidance and assurance of hope.
Our youth department provides an exciting variety of activities for children and teens. We offer fun movie nights for families. We frequently celebrate with delightful gift giveaways, music and flowers. Laughter is a beautiful sound that can often be heard throughout our facility, representing the joy of healing and renewal. Many of the men, women and children we serve, move toward a better life and brighter future.
Devils child? That’s what she was called. Were they right?
At sixteen, Tiffany says it was as if she died inside, and Porsha was born. That was her appropriate street name, a wild spirit, hustler extraordinaire! Prostitute, pimp, drug pusher, or anything for the right price. So successful, she shined in her world. The proof was evident in her seven luxury cars, furs, jewels, sophisticated electronics and well, you name it….she had it. But along with that street fame and glamour, came violence, rape, guns, machetes, and death. Crimes of every description were daily events. No tears, no pain. Just 20 years of crazed psychotic survival.
At age 32 used and abused, Tiffany found herself in the dark confinements of prison with the agonizing torture of 13 months to be still, think, and finally feel the pain. Who was taking care of her precious daughters? Her hands were now tied. No visitation, no calls. She felt as though vultures were out to get her girls, just as they had stolen her youth.
Through this time, a slow, deep relationship with God was miraculously building. She thought God would have to hit her with lightning for her to change. Instead, He gently led her on a sweet journey to becoming a real woman, on her way to serve Him completely.
Once out of prison, Tiffany was tossed into the world, scared, lonely, and beaten down with such anxiety, she carried a paper bag at all times for emergency breathing. Devil's child or God’s child? How could she possibly become a successful “normal” woman and mother to her girls? She cried out for God’s help.
In December of 2004, Tiffany stumbled into the Tacoma Rescue Mission Family Shelter. It was heaven sent! She could breath again. She didn’t know what kind of help she would get, just that finally, she and her girls were going to be ok. Nobody had ever given her anything for free in her entire life.
The next step was to apply for Tyler Square transitional housing, which was more beautiful and safe than she could imagine. She had keys... her very own keys! Not only to a cute little apartment, but to freedom and a fresh start in Christ. The haunting question in her heart was “how do I become a woman?” Well, Tiffany’s big smile and hearty laugh have been enjoyed every day for the past year as she became involved in every growth opportunity offered by our staff. If there was a way to give back and volunteer, she was there. Tiffany now shines in her new world of peace, hope and bright future.
She is a good mom to her girls, now 6, 9, and 18. Because of her experiences, Tiffany is able to help other women see there is a God who loves them…and there is hope. She is working for the Tacoma Rescue Mission Family Shelter and has recently been promoted to Lead Shift Coordinator, blessing others in need.
God is Faithful!