Where do you go when you have no place to go?
Family Shelter
Whether it was due to medical expenses, mental illness or poor decision making, many families who become homeless never meant for that situation to occur. Our program is designed to encourage these families and connect them with the resources they need in order to find safe, affordable, permanent housing.
What the Program Offers
- Assistance to 18 families including single fathers or mothers with children, and couples with familial stability.
- Year-round, 24-hour accessibility.
- A room with private kitchenette and bathroom for up to 90 days.
- Beds, linens, pots and pans, and other simple amenities to use while in the program.
- On-site coin-operated laundry.
- On-site case manager who works with each family, encouraging and guiding them toward self-sufficiency.
- Referrals for employment programs, educational programs and independent living placement. Many families are encouraged to apply to our Stepping Stones program.
Requirements
For information on what is required to obtain services, view our Housing Stability and Empowerment Program guidelines.
Warming Center
When the temperature drops to 15-degrees or below and the city activates emergency procedures the Family Emergency Shelter is one of a few shelters allowed to admit additional persons throughout the night. Anyone needing to take shelter from the weather is invited in and given a hot cup of coffee.
Letters from Participants
We've made letters from Rhonda and Theresa available online for you to read the original letters.
Letter from a single mother
I am a single mother of three beautiful children. After my divorce, I worked hard to make sure I could provide for my children. During this stressful time, I started drinking here and there until the night that changed everything. I was coming home from a friend’s house when I was arrested for D.U.I. Because of my choice, I lost my job, my apartment and my car. I swore I would never move my family into a shelter, but since there was no where else to turn, I took a chance and called The Salvation Army. A kind man answered the phone and said to come in. As a Muslim woman, I arrived in my covering and found no judgment was passed on my choice of religion. Instead, they offered us our own room and something to eat. In our stay at the Shelter, my children have felt safe and comfortable. The staff have helped me with my stress and frustrations. I have been able to go back to school and get back on my feet. I don’t know how I would have done it alone.
Stepping Stones
Rebuilding Lives by Renewing Hope.
What the Program Offers
- A secure, drug and alcohol free environment for stabilization of families.
- Participation in the program is on a month to month basis for up to 24 months while actively working towards permanent housing.
- A 3-bedroom apartment is provided as part of the case-management.
- On-site case managers work along side each family to determine the causes of their homelessness and help them find the resources to live independently.
- Youth and adult activities are offered at the Community Center located on the same Family Resource Campus.
Requirements
For information on what is required to obtain services, view our Housing Stability and Empowerment Program guidelines.
Applicants must apply at Community Services and submit an application to the Stepping Stones program. They must check in with the Stepping Stones personnel two times a week. Families must have at least three individuals in the household, at least one of the individuals must be a child under 18 years of age. Adults must have current picture identification. All family members must have social security cards. Families must have proof of homeless status and income.
Letter From A Participant
My wife and I recently became homeless due to a foreclosure on our home. This was the result of several factors, but for the most part was due to illnesses [which] imposed hardships on my ability to maintain employment and be the main provider for [my wife and two daug hters]...We were able to stay at the homeless shelter for about two weeks and then were able to be placed in Stepping Stones. We once again have a sense of hope for our future which recently seemed very bleak.
Contact
The Salvation Army Stepping Stones Program
127 East Nora Avenue, Spokane, WA 99207
Phone: 509-326-7288
Fax: 509-326-6110