SAFEHOUSE OF SHELBY COUNTY INC

SafeHouse of Shelby County provides life-saving, life-changing services for victims/survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their children.

Sue (not her real name), a former SafeHouse resident, wants to share her story with you: "I learned about the SafeHouse through my daughter's school one year when they collected toiletries for them. I did not have the courage or strength to leave my husband at that time but it was always a comfort to know it was there." Sue had several conversations with advocates and created a safety plan. Eventually, she made the decision to leave. "When my daughters and I went to live at the SafeHouse, we were given services that I never knew existed. I don't know where we would be if the SafeHouse had not been available to me. My greatest fear is that my husband would have eventually succeeded in killing me. My husband use to dig holes on our property with his bull dozer and would drag me to the holes and threaten to bury me alive, stating that no one would know where to find me. The SafeHouse has changed our lives for the better forever by stopping the circle of violence, by allowing my family and I a way to continue on living our lives. I will forever be in SafeHouse's debt."

SafeHouse has developed a multi-faceted approach that provides emergency shelter and a continuum of care that supports survivors in their attempt to escape from violent situations. Not only is it important for survivors to find an atmosphere that is physically safe, but also to find one that will allow emotional healing. SafeHouse offers voluntary, trauma-informed services and individualized empowerment planning to assist residents in becoming safe, strong and self-sufficient. Founded in 1989 as an emergency shelter by a group of individuals dedicated to serving victims of domestic violence, SafeHouse expanded its mission in 1996 to include services for victims of sexual violence. Long-term efforts to address the future of survivors include a continuum of care that goes beyond crisis calls and emergency intervention. Major programs include residential services (emergency shelter, transitional housing and services for children), community services and prevention education. To accomplish its mission, SafeHouse offers the following services, the majority of which are provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year:

• 24 hour crisis line
• Safe, secure, confidential shelter
• Long-term transitional housing to address the need for affordable, stable housing
• Individual and group education on the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence
• Supportive services for domestic violence victims also experiencing issues with substance abuse
• Empowerment planning (case management) services
• Bilingual services for Latin/Hispanic survivors
• Financial literacy education and other skill-building education to support self-sufficiency
• Child advocacy and services to reduce the trauma of exposure to violence
• Sexual assault advocacy
• Support and education groups for children
• Follow-up empowerment planning
• Legal advocacy and protection order assistance
• Court accompaniment
• Hospital accompaniment
• Individual and group counseling services
• Referrals to agencies and organizations that offer assistance
• Prevention education (bullying, healthy relationships, dating violence, sexual assault)

Without the support of individuals, businesses, faith communities and others, there would be no SafeHouse. Without SafeHouse, hundreds of adults and children each year would have no safe place to go when they flee violence in their homes and would not be able to get the help they need to be safe, to heal and to become self-sufficient. We are grateful for the dedication and compassion of all those involved in supporting our life-saving, life-changing work.

Video courtesy of Cahaba New Media.

Cities: Alabaster, Calera, Chelsea, Columbiana, Harpersville, Helena, Hoover, Indian Springs Village, Inverness, Montevallo, Pelham, Vincent, Westover, Wilsonville, Wilton, Ashland, Lineville, Goodwater, Kellyton, Rockford

Counties: Shelby, Coosa, Clay

Zip codes: 35007, 35022, 35040, 35043, 35048, 35051, 35072, 35078, 35080, 35082, 35089, 35094, 35114, 35115, 35124, 35128, 35136, 35137, 35143, 35144, 35147, 35176, 35178, 35183, 35185, 35186, 35187, 35216, 35226, 35236, 35238, 35242, 35244, 36026, 36251, 36258, 36266, 36267

Keywords: domestic, violence, sexual, assault, rape, bullying, crisis, shelter, transitional, emergency, victim, counseling, support, dating, stalking, women, children, families, teen