GoEco - Israeli Women's Shelter

The women's shelter offers these women a number of services. Most importantly, it offers a safe place to rest. The fear of robbery or rape while sleeping on the streets has caused most of these women to resort to insomnia. The first step of the shelter is to offer a safe space where the women can catch up on sleep, hoping that this may open doors towards future rehabilitation.

The second thing the shelter offers is the possibility of a change of clothes. In providing showers and clean clothing, the shelter gives these women a small element of pride in who they are, and what they may be able to achieve.

The third part and perhaps the part most geared towards rehabilitation, is the cafeteria. Most of these street women, if given the choice between satisfying hunger or satisfying their drug addiction, would choose the latter. The shelter's hope is that in providing a small bite to eat, or a hot cup of coffee, it will also create a forum to promote interaction in a safe environment. Once we connect to their basic needs, we can open a discussion towards counseling and eventually friendship and trust. Because there are absolutely no drugs allowed in the shelter, this is a place where these women can feel clean and safe, but it can hold the danger of withdrawal.