Dawning Family Services incorporates programs and case management
to create a personalized plan for each family. The myriad of services include:
Safe and secure shelter
Housing search programs
Prevention & diversion services
Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) assistance
Post-shelter support to ensure a family's continued housing stability
Dawning Family Services is building the first Community Housing Solutions Center for families in Hillsborough County and when fully operational will have the following major service delivery areas: 1) Bridge Housing Emergency Shelter for families that is both Low Barrier and Equal Access Rule compliant; 2) Housing First services; 3) Client-focused Case Management and Post-Shelter Support utilizing principles of trauma informed care; 4) onsite Community Partnerships with other social service agencies from the community delivering their programs of expertise; and 5) a Comprehensive Services Center that will help families who are struggling from becoming homeless in the first instance and assist them on a path to sustainability.
These shelter and services will occur at a new facility in West Tampa. However, we cannot fully serve the hundreds of families in need until we have raised almost $8.5 million dollars to cover construction costs. We are in urgent need of your help!
The Family Housing Solutions Center will be implemented in phases from 2019-2021 as renovations to our newly purchased facility are completed and construction of the new emergency shelter is finished.
The Dawning Family Services Family Housing Solutions Center broke ground in late-Summer 2019. An existing building was renovated; a second building’s renovations will be complete in mid-Summer 2020. Both of these buildings offer programmatic and administrative space. In addition, the construction of a brand new emergency shelter for families with minor children will commence in Fall 2020.
Our Bold Vision
The Dawning Family Services Family Housing Solutions Center is set to break ground in Summer 2019. The new facilities will include a brand-new emergency shelter and two renovated programmatic and administrative buildings.
Some of the Family Housing Solutions Center highlights include:
- Low-barrier, bridge-housing emergency shelter for families with minor children.
- 240-plus beds in our new emergency shelter.
- Comprehensive drop-in services center that offers homeless prevention/diversion services.
- Dedicated space for partner agencies to deliver their respective services onsite, a more efficient approach to making community referrals.
- Technology lab to provide for job-seeking and skills-training.
- Personal hygiene closet, food pantry, diaper depot, laundromat, and shower facilities.



Family Welcome Center
Family Services Center
Family Bridge Housing
Each year, hundreds of vulnerable families with minor children contact Dawning Family Services, seeking safe and secure shelter and other support services. As a community and as their neighbors, it is incumbent upon all of us to help create positive and sustainable change for these families in need.
To learn more about our capital campaign, including naming opportunities, and contact Mona Duffus, Chief Executive Officer, at 813-875-2024, Ext. 1025 or via email at mduffus@dawningfs.org.