What is Tabitha House?
Tabitha House is a new transitional home in Toronto’s east end that will support young women (between the age of 16-26 years old) experiencing homelessness and/or housing insecurity. Since Christmas 2020 Tabitha House has been ready to welcome residents. Three women are currently in the process of moving in and making it home.
WHO IS TABITHA?
In Jesus’ day being unmarried often meant a woman was not fully welcomed in society, she was susceptible to living in financial poverty and she was often preyed upon by abusers and oppressors.
And into this cultural moment God sent Tabitha, a follower of Jesus, a financially independent business woman, a woman who saw her city’s injustices and wanted change and worked hard at loving her neighbours well. (Acts 9:36-42)
Our hope is that every person who walks into Tabitha House, whether resident, social worker or volunteer, would be like Tabitha: a person who uses whatever they have, whoever they are, to make their corner of the world a better place to live in.
Why Transitional Housing?
Most simply put, transitional housing is a basic need for all young people; most receive it from parents and other supportive family members as they transition from the dependence of childhood into the independence of adulthood. Unfortunately, for vulnerable youth, these family supports are not in place, leaving them to transition alone. Transitional housing for youth is not simply an attempt to redress problems; it is also optimistically focused on prevention for a vulnerable population with capacity for change.
Youth make up about 20% of those experiencing homelessness. When considering only the Greater Toronto Area, Covenant House estimates that 1,000-2,000 youth (ages 13-25) are homeless on any given night. When women become unhoused, they are at increased risk of violence and assault, sexual exploitation and abuse. Many women will go to great lengths to avoid the shelter system, including staying in dangerous and unhealthy relationships and/or making arrangements to move in with a partner (even when that situation is unsafe) rather than submit to the incredible risk of violence and exploitation on the streets.
INTRODUCING LOFT COMMUNITY SERVICES
Tabitha House would not be possible without LOFT Community Services who has received government funding to lease a property in Toronto’s east end and will hire support staff to assist these women with one-on-one support, individual and group counselling, practical life skills education and employment advocacy. In addition, they will also provide social drop-ins and 24-hour phone and text support.
Grace Toronto Church would be Tabitha House’s main financial donor. The elder board recently approved a $50,000 donation towards Tabitha House’s first year of operations.
A BIBLICAL CALL
In James 1:26-27 we are told that one of three litmus tests of true religion is if “we visit orphans and widows in their afflictions.” This means the work of loving those who are suffering, fatherless, impoverished, marginalized, does not belong to people of certain gifting or natural bent, but rather this ought to be one of the marks of every believer.
Tabitha House is one of the ways in which Grace Toronto joins God’s holy mission to “visit the orphan and widow in their distress” and to “protect the widow and settle the fatherless, the solitary, in a home”.
WHAT CAN I DO?
IN-PERSON VOLUNTEERING
When necessary restrictions due to COVID19 are lifted, we hope to provide volunteer opportunities for members of GTC, who could use their compassion, gifts and strengths to join these young women in the daily tasks that contribute toward their sense of belonging and as they strive for independence.
For example:
celebrating birthdays, Christmas, graduations, etc
cooking and learning together
planning and participating in socials
studying for tests and helping with schoolwork
going to coffee and shopping meetups
accompanying them on appointments
helping with resume writing, college applications, filling of forms, etc
planning and participating in spring cleaning, gardening projects, projects around the house
Our hope is that volunteers, while in relationship with these women, would help to change their narrative from alienation to belonging. We hope that these young women, who currently struggle with homelessness and physical need, would see their worth, discover their potential, and begin to offer their gifts and service to their community in a meaningful way. Much more than safe shelter, we pray that Tabitha House will become home for its residents and that a community of hope and encouragement would be built. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the volunteer form below so that we can update you on training sessions (soon to be scheduled in Winter 2021).
Note: All volunteers who will be interacting with Tabitha House residents on a regular basis will need to participate in a LOFT volunteer training session, agree to and sign a volunteer agreement, and undergo a Vulnerable Sector Screening check.
Practical Needs
From time-to-time, Tabitha House may need some household items. Here is the latest on what is needed at the home:
Pray
God has been faithful in answering our prayers. Tabitha House is a reality and he has provided. Please continue to pray for this home:
for these 3 women as they start a new chapter in their lives in this new place; that this would be a safe home for them
that the women would build strong relationships of respect and care for one another
for wisdom for the LOFT staff and volunteers as they serve and connect with the women of Tabitha House
that neighbours of Tabitha House would see this as beautiful and for the good of the community and that friendly relationships would grow
for strength for these women as they work on their recovery; for courage and perseverance as they figure out their dreams, goals and plans; for hope so they might see they are worthy and have great potential
Donate
This home relies on the generous contribution of the church and its surrounding community. If you would like to donate towards this project, you can do so here:
For more information, please contact shen@gracetoronto.ca.