Renovated emergency housing facility reopened earlier this year and is already providing a safe place for individuals and families in need.

DAYTON, Tenn. — We Care Community Services is proud to celebrate the reopening of Safe Haven Light, which reopened earlier this year following an extensive renovation and has already begun housing individuals and families in need.

Safe Haven Light provides safe housing and transitional support for up to 12 individuals, depending on family size, with live-in house managers providing on-site support. The facility includes six resident bedrooms, three bathrooms and a separate two-bedroom, one-bath unit for house managers.

The renovation represents a significant reinvestment in Safe Haven Light and We Care's commitment to ensuring that emergency housing in the community is safe, comfortable and dignified. Funding raised through the annual We Care Charity Golf Tournament helped make the renovation possible, with We Care Community Services supplementing those funds to cover the additional costs necessary to complete the project.

Today, the work is already making a difference. Since reopening, Safe Haven Light has once again begun welcoming people who need a safe place to stay while working toward greater stability.

A Fresh Start for Safe Haven Light

The renovation included improvements throughout the facility:

• Heating and cooling: Two HVAC units were replaced to provide safe and reliable heating and cooling throughout the facility.

• Living spaces: New flooring, ceiling tiles and interior doors were installed, along with fresh paint throughout the shelter.

• Bathrooms and plumbing: Improvements included a new water heater, new vanity units and updated shower facilities to better serve residents and live-in staff.

• Sleeping accommodations: Worn beds and mattresses were replaced, providing residents with clean, comfortable and dignified sleeping quarters.

• Food and daily essentials: The shelter's emergency food pantry was fully restocked, along with personal hygiene essentials including soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and other toiletries.

These improvements allow Safe Haven Light to continue doing what it was created to do: provide a safe place for people during some of the most uncertain moments of their lives.

The Community Makes This Possible

Safe Haven Light is also a tangible example of what happens when the community supports We Care.

When someone donates gently used clothing, furniture or household goods to the We Care Thrift Center, those items are resold and the proceeds help fund We Care's programs and services. The Thrift Center provides approximately 80% of We Care Community Services' overall budget, helping support programs including emergency and transitional housing.

Community support also comes through direct financial contributions, donations of food and essential supplies, volunteering and fundraising events such as the annual We Care Charity Golf Tournament.

The renovation of Safe Haven Light demonstrates how those different forms of generosity come together. Proceeds from the annual golf tournament provided funding toward the project, and We Care invested additional resources to ensure the renovations could be completed and the shelter reopened.

A donated piece of furniture or bag of clothing can become funding that keeps a shelter operating. A golf tournament sponsorship can help fund improvements to a home. A donation of food, toiletries or household supplies can help care for the next person who walks through the door.

Every donation has somewhere to go, and every contribution has the opportunity to make a difference.

The Work Continues

Reopening Safe Haven Light was an important milestone, but maintaining emergency housing is an ongoing effort.

Community members can continue supporting Safe Haven Light and We Care's other emergency housing programs by donating gently used items to the We Care Thrift Center, making financial contributions, donating food and household supplies, volunteering, shopping at We Care's retail operations or supporting the annual We Care Charity Golf Tournament.

Donations of food, toiletries, cleaning supplies and other everyday necessities are especially helpful in keeping We Care's emergency housing stocked and ready to serve.

Safe Haven Light is renovated. Its doors are open. And most importantly, people are once again finding a safe place to call home when they need it most.

About We Care Community Services

We Care Community Services, Inc. is a nonprofit organization serving Rhea County and surrounding communities through emergency and transitional housing, food assistance, financial assistance and other community programs. Its work is supported by community donations, the We Care Thrift Center, fundraising events, volunteers and other contributions.