Home » About Us » Our Story. For over four decades, The Spring of Tampa Bay has been a leader in our community. We have been at the forefront of creating change and educating our community while protecting survivors of domestic violence.
Founded by four trailblazing women, The Spring began when one of the women opened a spare bedroom in her Tampa home as a safe haven for a friend who needed to escape an abusive relationship.
Word quickly spread and more women came forward needing shelter. Soon this network of community members quickly outgrew their capacity to shelter the abused inside their own homes. And in , our first shelter was built, with only four bedrooms.
Today, The Spring has grown to be one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the state of Florida with beds in our emergency shelter. With support from Hillsborough County, we also open the first public school in the nation located in a domestic violence center.
The Spring establishes an onsite licensed day care center, giving survivors greater freedom to work during the day. Eventually thrift operations moves a few blocks away to Willow Avenue.
