PEOPLE NEED HOMES, NOT SHELTERS. 

Waking the Village (WTV) leads Tubman House, Art Beast Children’s Studio, and Audre's Emporium of New Tomorrows. Each program centers on an interactive environment that inspires growth and builds community.

Tubman House opened in 2003 and provides 24 months of housing and support so that Sacramento’s homeless, parenting youth and their children can get busy living rather than surviving. At Tubman, young parents experience a holistic program centered on youth development, the strengthening of physical and mental health, educational attainment, career development, and financial management so that they leave prepared to be leaders in their own lives and leaders in the lives of their children and community. Children experience stability and blossom in a nurturing home with an on site child development program. In exchange for housing and support, Tubman residents lead Youth Corps, developing leadership and spearheading projects to build up their neighborhoods, schools, and natural spaces. Youth Corps reconnects youth to their community as leaders.

Opened in 2009, Art Beast Children’s Studio is an arts exploration environment serving children 0 to 7. Art Beast offers an inclusive space for all parents to share art experiences with children and connect with other adults, encouraging the growth of a community that works to make Sacramento’s children art literate while developing a diverse parent network. Current and former Tubman residents are provided free, unlimited access to Art Beast, connecting them to the broader parenting community and facilitating aftercare contact after residents graduate from Tubman. All profits from Art Beast support Tubman House. Art Beast also provides employment to current and former Tubman residents.

Audre's Emporium of New Tomorrows opened in 2017 and offers two shared housing sites for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults that are overcoming homelessness. Both sites follow the Tubman model of intensive services and community building while creating safe and dynamic space for LGBTQ+ youth. National data indicates that 30% of youth experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ+. Statewide data indicates that LGBTQ+ youth experience higher rates of victimization, including human trafficking, than their straight peers. Unfortunately, LGBTQ+ youth often face discrimination in the shelters. From the prejudice experienced in programs lacking cultural competence to the subtle discrimination of gender coded housing, the environment too often marginalizes LGBTQ+ youth and leaves them unsure that they will be safe. Audre's Emporium of New Tomorrows is proud to be the first housing program greeting and celebrating our LGBTQ+ youth.