July brought an intense period of crisis response for REST, with staff working extended hours to support survivors through hotline calls, field response, shelter services, meals, and safe spaces during the summer heat. Along the way, community partners, churches, volunteers, and donors helped provide nourishment, comfort, and moments of connection. Read how REST’s team and community came together to meet urgent needs with flexibility, care, and resilience.
When a major international soccer event brought thousands of visitors to Seattle, REST put months of preparation into action. During the response period, staff supported at least 25 people with individualized safety planning, emergency lodging, transportation, relocation, and essential resources, adapting quickly as needs changed. Read how REST’s team, donors, and community partners worked together to turn careful planning into real pathways to safety, stability, and hope.
June was a meaningful month at REST, filled with team growth, preparation, creativity, and moments of connection with shelter guests. From welcoming new staff and completing crisis response training to celebrating Juneteenth at Seward Park and bringing summer creativity into the shelter, this month’s update offers a glimpse into the many ways care, community, and survivor-centered support show up every day at REST.
Fifteen years ago, REST began with one bold belief: survivors deserve dignity, compassion, and real pathways forward. Since 2009, that belief has looked like calls answered when someone had nowhere else to turn, advocates showing up again and again, and a community refusing to look away. In our 15-year anniversary blog, we reflect on REST’s journey from our beginnings in 2009 through becoming an official 501(c)(3) in 2011, what this milestone truly represents, and why we’re more committed than ever to the work ahead. Read the full post to celebrate with us and see what’s next.
July brought an intense period of crisis response for REST, with staff working extended hours to support survivors through hotline calls, field response, shelter services, meals, and safe spaces during the summer heat. Along the way, community partners, churches, volunteers, and donors helped provide nourishment, comfort, and moments of connection. Read how REST’s team and community came together to meet urgent needs with flexibility, care, and resilience.
June was a meaningful month at REST, filled with team growth, preparation, creativity, and moments of connection with shelter guests. From welcoming new staff and completing crisis response training to celebrating Juneteenth at Seward Park and bringing summer creativity into the shelter, this month’s update offers a glimpse into the many ways care, community, and survivor-centered support show up every day at REST.
In May, guests at REST’s shelter experienced meaningful moments of creativity, connection, and care. From puzzles and art projects around the table to a special tea party “share and show” event, guests found space for self-expression, calm, and community. Read the full blog to see how simple moments of beauty and creativity helped create room for healing at REST.
Healing does not always happen in obvious ways. Sometimes it looks like gathering around a table for Easter dinner, joining a supportive conversation, or laughing together over banana splits. In April, REST shelter guests experienced meaningful moments of joy, connection, and care that helped create space for hope. Read more about how these moments are supporting healing at REST.
Camp REST created space for belonging, healing, and possibility in March. From shared meals and creative activities to a restorative visit to Salish Lodge, guests experienced moments of connection, care, and encouragement. The month also marked meaningful transitions as two guests took important next steps toward stability and independence. Read more about how Camp REST helped create room for rest, community, and new possibilities.
Most of the photographs representing survivors on this website are stock photography and feature models used for illustrative purposes only. With a few carefully evaluated exceptions, we do not publish or share photos of survivors at REST.
