Bringing Trauma-Informed Care Into the Community
Named for the steady, nurturing presence everyone deserves in a moment of crisis, Momma D’s was created to bring compassionate, trauma-informed care directly into Washington’s communities.
We do not wait for people to find services — we go to them.
In camps, tents, shelters, and on the street, we meet individuals where they are, without judgment and without barriers.
Because the people living outside are not statistics.
They are our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers.
They are loved ones who deserve dignity, compassionate redirection, and someone willing to advocate when they cannot advocate for themselves.
Our mission is simple: connection before correction, relationship before recovery.
The Meaning Behind the Name
The founder has been a nurse for over 35 years and has long been known among colleagues as “Momma Mel” — a reflection of a career built on advocacy, protection, and steady support for people in vulnerable moments.
“Momma D’s” also honors Doloree, the founder’s sister, who lived with addiction and homelessness.
On the street she was affectionately called Momma D — known for her generosity, humor, and the way she cared for her street family. She earned the nickname “the dumpster-diving queen” for her uncanny ability to find useful treasures and share them with others, always trying to bring comfort and smiles.
Doloree died of an overdose on her birthday, February 23, 2024.
Momma D’s exists in her memory — and for every person still out there who deserves someone to show up, stay, and care.
