Mysti's Adult and Family Services: Transforming Lives Through Accountability

When grief turns into purpose, meaningful change can follow. After losing her mother, Mysti, during the pandemic, Giovanne Schachere founded Mysti’s Adult and Family Services in Washington State. What began as a personal response to loss has grown into an organization providing critical services to justice-impacted individuals, unhoused families, and those experiencing behavioral health challenges across King, Snohomish, Thurston, Yakima, Lewis, Clark, and Pierce counties.

Schachere describes the organization’s approach as “a movement rooted in lived experience, care, and accountability.” Rather than focusing solely on immediate relief, Mysti’s Adult and Family Services emphasizes long-term independence through structured support systems that help clients build sustainable stability.

Housing stability programs

Mysti’s Adult and Family Services has introduced a housing-first framework that emphasizes immediate shelter and long-term planning. The organization partners with landlords willing to accept Section 8 vouchers and provides continued support to maintain stable housing, including help with utility payments, security deposits, and connections to community housing resources throughout Washington.

The program’s reach extends from Seattle’s urban center to Yakima and other regions. A distinguishing feature of Mysti’s housing work is the integration of accountability and skill-building. Beyond placing people in homes, staff members help clients learn about tenant rights, property maintenance, and financial literacy—skills that support long-term independence.

“My job is to oversee programs and budgets. My job is to help you,” Schachere says, underscoring her involvement and commitment. This balance of guidance and structure has drawn attention from organizations in other states interested in studying its approach.

Employment pathways

The organization’s employment programs aim to provide vulnerable populations with access to meaningful and sustainable work. Through structured job training, volunteer experiences, and tailored employment opportunities, participants gain professional skills that support long-term growth rather than short-term placements.

“I have seen men transition from incarceration and within 30 days start earning, training, and stabilizing their lives—because someone finally asked them to rise, not just receive,” Schachere says. The program helps participants document community service hours, connect with vocational training, and navigate employment transitions.

Local employers partner with the organization to create roles suited for individuals with justice involvement or housing instability. “We have seen women in shelter housing become full-time outreach workers and young people in foster care start their own small businesses,” Schachere notes, highlighting the program’s diverse outcomes.

Comprehensive care management

Mysti’s Adult and Family Services provides coordinated care management for residents facing multiple barriers to stability. Care coordinators assist clients with SSI applications, food benefits, mental health access, and justice system requirements. This hands-on approach helps reduce the administrative and systemic obstacles that can delay or derail progress toward self-sufficiency.

Staff members act as both advocates and guides, ensuring clients access the full range of available services while focusing on long-term goals. The organization’s trauma-informed care model emphasizes that effective support must address immediate needs while confronting the root causes of instability. “We don’t just provide services,” Schachere says, describing the organization’s personalized approach to care.

Mysti’s also provides bridge support such as assistance in obtaining identification documents, birth certificates, and other essential paperwork—practical steps that help clients gain access to housing, employment, and community resources.

Measuring long-term outcomes

Mysti’s Adult and Family Services measures its success by the independence and progress of its clients. Many have transitioned from homelessness to homeownership, incarceration to employment, and dependency to leadership roles within their communities. Schachere emphasizes that the goal is empowerment through structure and support rather than ongoing assistance.

“We are a launchpad for independence—emotionally, economically, and personally,” Schachere explains. Success stories include formerly incarcerated individuals starting employment within weeks, women moving from shelters to full-time outreach positions, and young adults aging out of foster care who go on to create their own businesses.

Mysti’s Adult and Family Services seeks to build partnerships across the Pacific Northwest with employers, government agencies, and community organizations. Through this network, the organization aims to expand access to dignified, effective support systems that promote stability, self-determination, and long-term community well-being.