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.
As Seattle prepares for a major global soccer event, REST is preparing to meet the moment with awareness, outreach, and survivor-centered support. Learn why large events make community preparedness so important, what REST is doing to strengthen response, and how you can help survivors know there is a safe place to turn.
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.
This spring, REST is expanding shelter capacity from 7 beds to 12, but this story is about more than additional space. It is about listening to survivors, rethinking language, and creating environments that feel safe, dignified, and deeply restorative. From renaming our shelter the Essential RESToration Center to launching the new RESToration Transition Center, every detail reflects a commitment to care that is thoughtful, survivor centered, and designed to support what comes next. Read how this expansion is helping create more room for healing, hope, and lasting restoration.
Doris O’Neal, Director of Gender-Based Violence Specialized Services at YWCA Seattle, shares how she leads with courage, adaptability, and purpose while overseeing a team of 14 advocates. She opens up about mentorship, the Audre Lorde quote that keeps her from choosing silence, and the moment she had to pivot quickly when critical funding was reduced. Read the lessons she’s passing on, the women who inspire her, and the advice she offers to every woman stepping into leadership.
February at REST held both the moments that feel light and the moments that require everything we have. From a Valentine’s Day celebration filled with bouquets, laughter, and small reminders of normalcy, to a sudden safety situation that demanded swift coordination and deep care, our team and community showed what it means to stand with survivors in real time. Read the full February recap to see how partners, volunteers, and staff helped create warmth, protect safety, and support new beginnings when it mattered most.
Every so often, a gift to REST does not come in once, it comes in twice, with the same donor, the same amount, and double the impact. That is the power of matching gifts, and it may be the easiest way to multiply support for survivors of sex trafficking without giving a dollar more. In this blog, you will learn how matching gifts work, see true to life stories from REST donors, and get a simple step by step to check your employer’s program and submit a match in minutes. Even if your workplace does not offer one, you can still help unlock a match through your network.
Celebrate Black History Month by exploring Seattle through the neighborhoods that Black entrepreneurs and makers help shape every day. We’ve put together a curated guide of Black-owned businesses in and around Columbia City, Rainier Valley, Hillman City, and the Central District, plus easy “day out” itineraries to make supporting local simple and fun. Read the full blog to discover the list, plan your route, and find new favorites!
January at REST was a quiet return to what matters most: routine, connection, and steady steps forward. With workshops restarting, community spaces reopening, and our team growing stronger, we’ve seen again how consistency helps survivors refocus, rebuild momentum, and move toward their goals. Read the full blog to see what’s been happening inside the ERC and how your support is making it possible.
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.
