TACOMA, Wash. — A sexual assault resource center in Tacoma said it will soon be able to better serve survivors of sexual violence.
Rebuilding Hope Sexual Assault Center serves people in Pierce and Kitsap counties. In their last fiscal year, their executive director said they served more than 1,700 survivors with an array of services like counseling, legal advocacy, forensic exams, and more.
The center is currently located at 101 E. 26th Street but will soon be moving to a new location in the Hilltop neighborhood. The future location will be at 723 MLK Jr. Way.
The center already purchased the building, and the renovations of the building started Monday.
The executive director said the new building will allow them to serve more people in a more timely manner due to having additional office space. It is also right next to the link light rail route, so it will be easy for people to access.
She said the new center is near major hospitals, which will allow their staff members to get to hospitals quickly when they are needed for rape and forensic exams.
"We work to make sure that we are as visible, as present, and as accessible to that whole survivor community and their loved ones as possible,” said Carlyn Sampson, Rebuilding Hope Sexual Assault Center executive director. “And that's what this building is, it’s just a better tool for us to accomplish that.”
She said this is a $4.5 million project and that further upgrades and renovations will be happening over the next two and a half years.
In October, Rebuilding Hope launched a capital campaign to try to raise money to help with renovating and establishing the new center.
Part of their plans for the new center include creating a drop-in space, which is a room where survivors of sexual violence can show up to get assistance. The room will have a shower, laundry machines, and more.
Samson said these types of spaces are frequently utilized by survivors of sex trafficking. This addition to the center would be completed by 2025 or 2026.
The new location is set to open to the public in January.