“I feel like crying. It’s so emotional. It makes me happy that people are actually giving and helping out.” – Chelsea*
Chelsea* was living in a nice, quiet town on the Washington coast with her family. It was a dream life for her. But that dream turned into a nightmare when Chelsea’s husband became abusive.
She knew she had to get herself and her children out of that situation immediately.
“It’s a parent’s worst nightmare. My husband was abusing me and my kids,” she emotionally shares. “We needed to find a safe place.”
On top of it all, a devastating pandemic was starting to spread throughout Washington.
Chelsea had nowhere to go. No one to turn to. No way to care for her children. Having been a stay-at-home mom for the past 10 years, it was especially hard for her to find a job.
She was out of options and losing hope.
While desperately searching for a safe place to stay, she heard of the Tacoma Rescue Mission.
Chelsea and her boys were finally able to find refuge at the Mission’s family shelter. Thanks to generous friends like you, her family no longer had to worry about where to sleep at night or how they’d eat each day.
But, the challenges didn’t end there.
With school being remote due to the pandemic, she had three boys to take care of by herself. One in preschool, one in elementary and a teenager with disabilities.
“I thought, ‘What am I supposed to do?’” Chelsea shares. “I can’t look for work or housing. Not while needing to be there for my kids all day and help with their schoolwork.”
Feeling overwhelmed by it all, she broke down.
“I was outside our room on the floor just crying,” she remembers.
One of the Mission’s staff rushed to see what was wrong. Chelsea finally shared everything that was happening.
From there, our staff helped Chelsea’s children sign-up for the Mission’s youth program. Which they could attend all day. And her eldest got the one-on-one academic support he needed.
They also told her about local partnerships where her kids could get additional help.
“It helped tremendously,” Chelsea shares. “I actually have the time to look for work, look for housing and take care of myself.”
Chelsea was also able to get mental health counseling, employment services, legal support and more.
None of this would have been possible without the generosity of friends like you.
She and her sons have since moved into permanent housing. And are building a better future together.
“I’m getting to start a whole new life now with my boys,” Chelsea shares hopefully. “The Mission has given me resources to be able to better myself and my kids’ lives.”
Your support today will help more individuals and families, like Chelsea’s, escape homelessness and step into a new life. By providing vital shelter, crucial meals and life-changing resources as they face the ongoing effects of the pandemic.
*Name changed to protect guest privacy
