For the first time in years, Tanya is spreading her wings in a major way. With a renewed lease on life, she has secured a place of her own to call home. Before Uptown Safe Haven (UTSH), Tanya was homeless, in and out of transitional housing and shelters, and struggling with schizophrenia. She used drugs to self-medicate, was off her prescribed medication, and had no support to make a change.
Tanya found the support she needed at the ECS Uptown Safe Haven homeless transitional housing program in Bankers Hill. After two years at the Safe Haven, Tanya is on her path to recovery, working part-time in the kitchen at Scripps Mercy Hospital, taking her prescribed medication, and moving into her own apartment! We’re incredibly proud and excited about Tanya’s new journey.
“I live with people who understand where I’ve been and what I want to do. The staff try to make our days fun and interesting; they are supportive and easy to talk to. The program gives so much to the residents, and right now, I am able to save for my own place,” said Tanya.
A “Safe Haven” is housing designed for individuals experiencing homelessness and living with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorders. ECS has been on the front lines of the homelessness crisis since 2001 and will continue to raise awareness about the need for services tailored to individuals experiencing homelessness.
If you’d like to support a neighbor in need, please visit www.ecscalifornia.org/donate to learn more.
*Caption date may not be exact.
Former Uptown Safe Haven Client Tanya Mason and Timothy Whipple, Associate Director of Development. *October 2022.