Creating Safe Space

Many people come through the door at One 88 and you can see they are comfortable here. You can see it in their body language, the way they remove their packs, and the way they relax. They tell us with their smile and by their gratitude for a quick chat or light lunch. Not everyone can articulate what having this safe haven means to them, but this was not true for J. As she shared her story of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband and how she had to flee from where she lived and come to a place where she knew no one, tears welled up in her eyes. She was so thankful to Dave and Greg for being at One 88 and allowing people to come and just be. She asked me to make sure my church (Eastview) knew how important this place was. “If you’ve never been on the streets, it’s hard to understand how important a place like this is,” she said, “believe me this place saves lives.”