Support for the First Step Shelter:
First Step Shelter does not tell you about the traumas our residents have faced or their dreams for a new life. We do not make clear that the staff has only been on board for six months, nor that an entirely new program, the safe zone, was given to us before we were adequately familiar with the shelter program. Add to that the cold-weather shelter. Numbers don’t show how our staff go above and beyond to meet the needs of people, people with extraordinary physical, social, and emotional challenges, every single day, or how we are creating a place for them to feel safe and cared-for as they reconstruct their lives and wait for housing.
On January 25, we faced yet another challenge as we lost a resident, Ashley Baker, to a tragic accident directly in front of the shelter. She was on her way to the first day of her new job. Her new life.
As we continue to grieve, to move on, to work with residents on the path to housing, we reach out to you, our community, for support and assistance. We would like to be in the position to help the family with the cost of the funeral arrangements, which will be held out-of-state, and continue our mission of transitioning homeless adults into housing.
We ask you to consider partnering with us by making a tax-deductible donation to the First Step Shelter -using the donate button found on this page.
Thank you in advance on behalf of Ashley’s family, all the residents, staff and leadership of the First Step Shelter.
January 25, 2021
FIRST STEP SHELTER RESIDENT KILLED ON W. INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
A resident of First Step Shelter left for her first day at her new job. At 6:52am, she crossed Rt. 92 to get to the bus stop and was struck by a white pickup truck. EMS was called at 6:53am. She was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center, Daytona Beach and pronounced dead at 8:14am.
According to Executive Director Victoria Fahlberg, “Everyone here at First Step is grieving her loss. She has only been here since January 5th but has already made some good friends. She was working hard and doing what she needed to do to make a new life for herself. We feel devastated.”
First Step Shelter is committed to helping our residents along a path from homelessness to housing
Tornatore Safe Zone
The Rose Ann Tornatore Safe Zone opens Monday, November 23, 2020.
First Step Shelter in the News
Daytona Beach Homeless Safety Net Article
First Step Shelter Woman Resident Finds Home and Peace
First Step Shelter Residents Moving Into Housing