We have an ongoing partnership with First Step, a non-profit organization that offers free services and emergency shelter to individuals and their families impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. Throughout the last 45+ years, First Step has served more than 250,000 survivors through trauma-informed programming and offering emergency shelter.

Wayne County currently has 100 emergency shelter beds available for survivors, but the demand for safety far exceeds this capacity, often reaching 2-4 times the available space at any given time. First Step is actively raising funds to build a new shelter in Detroit, which will provide accommodation for 84 adults and children each night, significantly expanding life-saving services to 400-500 individuals annually in our city.

In 2024, Hot Bones set a goal to raise $5,000 to fund the shelter. Through monthly fundraiser events, that included classes to live music by Detroit DJs, sunset drinks on the patio, and gift bags by Xhibition we exceeded our donation goal. The studio matched the funds raised and donated a total of $10,000 to fund the “Mindfulness Room” in the shelter — a sacred space dedicated to prayer, meditation, and healing.