Since 1986, thousands of abused and neglected children in Tallahassee and the surrounding nine counties have found shelter, comfort and a sense of normalcy through a local charity - Tree House of Tallahassee, Inc.

As the organization celebrates 25 years of quietly supporting children, both the benefits it provides to area children and its current needs for support from the community are highly pronounced, with approximately 10 new children entering a Tree House facility each month.

Though many children, ages two to 12 years-old, brought to Tree House are victims of domestic abuse, there are a wide range of reasons a child may be placed in one of two homes operated by the organization. Increasingly, children whose parents have lost their jobs and are financially unable to support them are being placed in the homes until a more stable permanent environment is available. In all cases, the individuals and families involved receive the counseling they need while the children live in a nurturing environment and continue with their day-to-day routines.

Though many operational costs of Tree House are sustained by partnerships with Children’s Home Society of Florida and the Department of Children and Families, private donations and fundraisers organized by the board of the directors and volunteers are necessary to keep the charity functioning.

Before Tree House, Inc., Leon County children in domestic violence situations would be rescued by law enforcement. A Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services (HRS, now Florida Department of Children & Families) intake worker would assess the situation and if a child needed to be removed, they were authorized to take them to an individual foster-care home that was certified to have extra beds (for emergencies). If that was not available, they would have to hold the child (or children) at the police station or Sheriff’s Office.  Sometimes all of the beds in Tallahassee were filled, so children were transported by intake workers to Panama City.  This sometimes took place in the middle of the night, when domestic violence often occurs. The idea of a shelter home that would be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week came about in the late 1970s.

The first Tree House opened Thanksgiving Day 1986. The four-bedroom home was purchased for $95,000 and then renovations we made, including adding a garage and an additional bed and bath in a separate suite for what was then live-in house parents.  In the early days, the group hired a married couple who were supplemented with shift workers and awake-night supervision.

Tree House was structured with three entities since early conception.  The state money helped fund the beginning organization. When Tree House took a child in, the state would pay to care for them. Children’s Home Society (CHS) bid to run Tree House’s management of the children.  The arrangement consisted of state of Florida funding, Children’s Home Society doing the work (they were licensed and insured) and the community organization to supplement the state funds and cover the home.

Tree House is grateful to its community partners for contributing to the organization in various ways that allow Tree House to operate smoothly.

Thank you for your continued generosity and support.