Fresh Starts for Women
Women face many challenges returning to society after incarceration.
New Connections offers them safe housing in a welcoming community. With advocacy, networking, and resource coaching, we are a charitable nonprofit that supports women taking steps toward a successful transition.
WE OFFER:
Women’s Shelters
Supportive recovery shelters for women experiencing homelessness who have recently been released from correctional facilities in Washington State, including a cottage for those with custody of children. Apply here.
Reentry 101 & Resource Navigation
Pre-release program to identify needs and offer community resources for those currently incarcerated, as well as reentry and resource coaching, and peer navigator assistance.
Advocacy & Community Outreach
Partnering with others to increase community safety, reduce recidivism, and eliminate barriers to success for formerly incarcerated individuals and their families.
Front Burner
Our top current needs and projects…
99 Stockings Project!
The 99 Stockings project creates a little holiday cheer for our neighbors at Tacoma’s Stability Site, the Beacon Young Adult Shelter, and other local shelters and campsites. New emergency shelters, safe parking sites, and camping communities have been established this year, so we’ll work with others to provide as many stockings and bags as we can.
Our goal this year is 99 stockings and 400 gift bags. Click here for more information and here to view our progress in gathering supplies for the project. Let us know if you – or a group you belong to are interested in helping!
Homelessness Volunteer Training
On December 7, attend a volunteer training for people working to reduce – and mitigate the effects of – homelessness and poverty in Pierce County. Organized by St. Leo Homelessness Workgroup with New Connections.
Our Commitment to Anti-Racism
At New Connections, we recognize our participation in the systemic racism that is deeply rooted in the history of this country. We are committed to using our resources to address the impacts of both interpersonal and institutional racism. We will partner with people of color and others who are working to interrupt the cycle of incarceration, poverty, homelessness, and recidivism that disproportionately impacts communities of color. We can build an America where the police do not kill people and where the fact that Black lives matter is acknowledged as a simple, indisputable truth.
We are a Community Partner for the Emergency Temporary Aid & Sheltering Initiative
As part of the City of Tacoma initiative in response to state of public health emergency, New Connections contributes to this effort through:
- Outreach to justice-involved people who are experiencing homelessness
- Establishing tools and capacity for continued advocacy and resource mentoring for unsheltered people and those staying in Tacoma emergency shelters
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Planning team participant for the Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness’ Safe Shelter Summits, in partnership with Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards, and member of the Summit Follow-up and Winter Shelter Committee working to end street homelessness in Tacoma by November 2021.