Did you know 70% of people living in poverty in the United States are women and children? In Spokane, nearly 30% of female households live in poverty. Transitions wants to change that statistic. This local not-for-profit works to end poverty and homelessness for women and children in Spokane. They operate six programs designed to support our community by providing child care, housing, job training, and friendly, safe spaces for women and children to visit. Their goal is to provide change, not band-aids. Programs under the Transitions umbrella include the following:

• Women’s Hearth: a drop-in center downtown helping some of our city’s most vulnerable women access showers, food, hygiene products, housing case management and opportunities to build connections and a sense of belong within a supportive community.
• Miryam’s House: a transitional housing program where nine women experiencing homelessness access wrap-around supportive services, one-on-one case management, life-skills education and continuing support through an Alumnae Program once they move on to permanent housing.
• Transitional Living Center: TLC provides transitional housing apartment units with supportive services for women and children experiencing homelessness in 15 apartments and one permanent housing unit. TLC is dedicated to helping women with children experiencing homelessness create stability in their lives.
• EduCare: licensed childcare on the TLC campus for infants, toddlers and preschool children designed to meet the needs of formerly homeless children. EduCare provides a developmentally supportive environment, robust nutritional program and trauma informed emotional support for this specific population of children.
• Home Yard Cottages: these 24 homes provide affordable, permanent supportive housing units for families and individuals. Fifteen of the cottages are net-zero with solar panels. Services include case management and community activities for the residents. Transitions built the cottages, which opened in 2018, with many community partners to increase their capacity to end homelessness and enhance their continuum of services.
• New Leaf Kitchen and Café: the kitchen provides job training in the food services industry with a hands-on 10–12 week program offered in a fast-paced commercial kitchen providing catering services. The Café is a separate 6–10 week barista training program. Every trainee gains full espresso knowledge training, retail sales and food industry experience. You can visit them on the first floor of the downtown Central Library.

If this ministry speaks to you we invite you to give generously.

If you’d like to contribute to this special collection, you may do so when it is announced during services on the third Sunday of the month, by mailing a check to the church (4340 West Whistalks Way, Spokane, WA 99224) or by donating online at the church website. Be sure to note in the memo section that your contribution is for the May special collection.

Take me to the online donation page.

Thanks again for your kindness and generosity!