History
Miryam’s House opened in 1986 in response to a community need for a residential program for women wishing to recover from abuse, addiction, displacement, or other crises in their lives. The program was originally sponsored by five congregations of religious women: the Sisters of Providence, the Spokane Dominicans, the Sisters of the Holy Names, the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia and the Good Shepherd Sisters. Operating under a Board of Directors, Miryam’s House began in a home owned by the Dominican Sisters. Today Miryam’s house is located on the lower south side of Spokane in a beautiful home that can accommodate up to ten women. Miryam's House provides a homelike, chemically free, supportive environment. Onsite case managers assist women to learn necessary life skills and provide them with opportunities for education and employment development to gain self-sufficiency and financial stability.
The Women’s Drop In Center opened its doors in downtown Spokane in 1991. Founded by a Holy Names Sister it was intended to serve women at risk of physical and sexual abuse. In 1992 the program was incorporated under the Miryam’s House Board of Directors and in 1993 moved into a larger space. In 1995 the Women's Drop In Center, in collaboration with SNAP, began its participation in the City of Spokane's HUD grant. With this grant we were able to hire a social worker to be part of the outreach team as well as to provide case management for women in 3 transitional apartments leased by SNAP. In 2004 the Women’s Drop In Center changed it’s name to the Women’s Hearth and moved into its present location, a large, open, home like space with plenty of room for groups and classes. The Women’s Hearth is a safe haven for women of diverse backgrounds seeking the safety and community of other women in a non-judgmental atmosphere.
Originally sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Spokane, the Transitional Living Center (TLC) was opened in 1993. The center was developed to meet a need in Spokane for transitional housing with services for women and children suffering from homelessness. A residential program, TLC consists of sixteen apartments ranging from 1-3 bedrooms. A peaceful, nurturing environment is provided for the support and structure needed in family life. It is the goal of TLC to assist families in breaking the cycle of homelessness, crises, and poverty in their lives. In addition to providing apartments and case management services for residents, TLC operates EduCare , an onsite child care program. TLC EduCare provides high quality, specialized children’s services to clients in the Spokane area, including licensed childcare (1 month-12 years), prevention programming, in home interventions, parenting education, reunification support, and family case planning.
Transitional Programs for Women (Transitions) was created in January of 1995 with the merger of these three unique services for women and children. A Board of Members, with a representative from each of the four sponsoring congregations, Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, Sisters of Providence and Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, oversee a Board of Directors, which is comprised of representatives from the Spokane community, and are responsible for daily operations. An Executive Director, Dia Maurer, leads the administration and the staff of Transitions which employs around 40 full and part time employees.
