Our Work
Our Mission
The mission of Rainbow Place is to provide women emergency overnight shelter during the hypothermia season and assist them as they transition to a better quality of life.
Who We Serve
Rainbow Place is an emergency shelter. We work with women at the very beginning of their transition out of homelessness. Our primary focus is to keep the women we serve safe during the harsh winter months and help transition them out of homelessness. We are open from November 1 - March 31. Our guests receive a warm, safe place to sleep, a hot dinner, breakfast, a bag lunch, shower, laundry facilities, access to case management, and referrals to local social service and treatment programs.
Eligibility
Women 18 years of age or older
Meet the definition of homeless (A person is considered homeless if, without HUD assistance, they would have to spend the night in a homeless shelter or in a place not meant for human habitation)
Willing to adhere to the Rainbow Place Rules
Referral
Please call the Montgomery County Crisis Center at 240-777-4000
Contact
Rainbow Place
215 West Montgomery Ave.
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 762-1496
Director of Development - development@rainbowplace.org
Volunteer Coordinator - rainbow@rainbowplace.org
Internal Revenue Service Form 990 is available upon request for inspection at the office of Rainbow Place Shelter
Our History
In 1982, a group of women at Rockville Presbyterian Church decided they wanted to reach out to the women experiencing homelessness in the City of Rockville. They decided they were up to the job of providing a warm, safe place to sleep for any woman who needed it during the winter months. In the first season, Rainbow Place clients were provided with an egg crate mattress on the floor, a hot cup of coffee, and a cheerful and compassionate staff to greet them. In the second season, dinner began to be served each night. Over the years, our services have expanded and Rainbow Place has grown to become a vitally important and highly respected part of the local care-giving community.
Founding Mothers: Pictured left to right: Elke Herzfeld, Marnie Lehr, Margee Iddings, Becky Wagner, Pamela McRainey, and Kathy Michaelian Missing: Betty Barney, Martha Irwin, Nancy Marsh, and Judy Taylor
Today at Rainbow Place Shelter
Rainbow serves approximately 100 women each season, most of whom come from Montgomery County. Many of the women of Rainbow Place are newly experiencing homelessness within the past 12 months, but others have been experiencing homelessness for many years. While many are employed or receive public assistance, all of Rainbow's women are considered to be at the lowest level of poverty, unable to afford a modest apartment for themselves or for their family. Rainbow Place serves as a gateway into the Continuum of Care for the homeless in the County and partners with numerous agencies to meet the needs of the women who are served at the shelter.
Other than our director, Rainbow has an all part-time staff which is mostly seasonal. We appreciate the many committed volunteers who help with a variety of tasks year round. Volunteers are vital to ensure Rainbow Place can operate on its modest budget. We rely on organizations, groups, schools and individuals of all ages to support evening and daytime volunteer needs both on and off-site.
Board of Directors: Richard Stolz, President; Monica Evans Antonio, Vice President; Ginny DeSeau, Secretary; Lauren Fishbein, Treasurer; Don Hadley, Willa Watson, Oyebisi Olatoye, David Chung, Directors; and Lauren Paiva, Executive Director