Safe to sleep - WOMEN ONLY

New women’s emergency shelter opens in Springfield after 15-year vision.  A new emergency shelter aimed at helping women experiencing homelessness is officially opening in Springfield.

Crosslines Community Outreach held a ribbon-cutting on Thursday for the new Romona Baker Emergency Women’s Shelter, also known as “Safe to Sleep,” located at its East Division Street facility.

Leaders say the shelter is designed to provide low-barrier, overnight support for women experiencing homelessness — while also connecting them with long-term resources to help rebuild stability.

According to Crosslines leaders, the idea for the shelter began about 15 years ago with Romona Baker, a woman who recognized the unique challenges women experiencing homelessness face and pushed for a safer place for them to stay.

“This is a culmination of a dream that has been percolating for 15 years,” said Jamie Trussell, CEO of Crosslines Community Outreach.

For years, the Safe to Sleep program operated out of borrowed spaces, including overnight stays in a church gymnasium through partnerships with local organizations. But leaders say this permanent location represents a major shift in how women can be served.

One of the biggest changes, according to Program Director Jessica Ross, is that women staying at the shelter can now safely leave their belongings behind during the day.

“At our current location, they cannot do that,” Ross said. “To be able to offer that opportunity for them, it will be so much easier for them to go about during the day, get on the bus, go to job interviews, and move around the community without carrying their belongings.”

Crosslines leaders say the shelter is especially important because women experiencing homelessness can face increased risks when unsheltered overnight.

“Bad things happen at night when women are unsheltered,” Trussell said. “We want women to be able to come in our doors at any point during the night if they need shelter. It’s essential for their safety.”

In addition to a safe place to sleep, the shelter will provide access to case management, medical resources and long-term support systems to help women regain stability.

The facility was made possible in part by funding from the City of Springfield and the Missouri Department of Economic Development, as well as community partnerships.

Crosslines says community members can support the shelter by volunteering overnight, helping provide meals, or donating through the organization’s website.

The organization says volunteers remain a key part of Safe to Sleep’s mission, with much of the shelter’s support system powered by community members.

Crosslines leaders invited the public to tour the facility and learn more about the shelter during Thursday’s ribbon-cutting event.

For more information on volunteering or donating, visit Crosslines Community Outreach’s website.