Sojourner House, Inc.
Committed to Ending Domestic and Sexual Violence
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Sojourner House(SH) is a comprehensive anti-violence org. that provides emergency shelter, supportive housing, and trauma-informed services to victims of domestic violence (DV),sexual assault (SA),and human trafficking(HT), and their children. DV, SA, and HT occur in every community and affect all demographic groups. National Coalition Against DV reports that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men has been physically abused by an intimate partner. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center reports that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 38 men have been the victim of a completed or attempted rape in their lifetime;in 2019, the National HT Hotline identified over 22,000 victims of HT in USA. Last fiscal year,SH served over 1,200 victims of abuse. Victims experience barriers to leave their abusers; Most fear that no one will believe nor support them.They are financially exploited, blamed,and convinced by abusers that no one will help them; they need comprehensive services to get to safety and empowerment.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
General Mission
Sojourner House provides direct service programs to about 3,000 people per year. We do not charge our clients for any of the services they receive. We offer emergency shelter, confidential 24-hour helpline assistance, assistance in requesting restraining orders, District Court advocacy, and many community-based domestic violence prevention and intervention programs, including a number of culturally specific initiatives and an innovative, award-winning HIV/ domestic violence prevention program. For more specific information, please call us.
Shelter/Residential
Shelter: As domestic violence victims take important steps to reclaim their lives, it is often necessary to move away from the abuser. Sojourner House's Safe House is in an undisclosed location and serves as immediate, safe, temporary housing for survivors and their children. Once there, advocates help residents work on their goals and provide emotional support for the duration of their stay, as well as follow-up care once they've moved to more permanent, safe housing. Our staff also provides information about domestic abuse, case management services, referrals, and educational programs. Each resident's length of stay at our Safe House depends upon their personal situation.
Our Safe Home is fully handicap accessible. Survivors and their children are provided with 24-hour locked and secure shelter and comprehensive services through Sojourner House's network of local resources and service providers. Residents participate in a number of programs designed to help them process the various effects of domestic abuse.
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING (INDEPENDENT APARTMENTS)
Sojourner House also offers a transitional housing program for victims of domestic violence and their children. Transitional housing may only be provided to victims exiting the Safe House, those who are homeless or in need of transitional housing as a result of fleeing a situation of domestic violence/dating violence, or those for whom emergency shelter services or other crisis intervention services are unavailable or insufficient.
Transitional Housing: The bridge to self-sufficiency and permanent housing for our clients. In addition to seeking permanent housing, clients have the opportunity to establish goals and learn skills to work toward economic stability.
Permanent Supportive Housing: In collaboration with Smith Hill Community Development Corporation (CDC), RI Housing, and other community partners, Sojourner House offers permanent supportive housing to victims and their children. Permanent Supportive Housing provides victims with an apartment for as long as they need, and the rent is subsidized based on the client’s income. Survivors are encouraged to attend our housing clinic series and various support groups. Additionally, clients have access to The Sojourner House continuum of programs and services.
Rapid Re-Housing: With funding from The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Continuum of Care and the Consolidated Homeless Fund, Sojourner House is able to offer a rapid re-housing program. The Rapid Re-housing Program allows homeless and fleeing victims to quickly obtain permanent housing by providing financial assistance with rent and utilities for up to twenty-four (24) months. Advocates work with victims to secure benefits and increase their income, that they may successfully maintain housing.
Sexual Health Advocacy/School Based Advocacy
Sexual Health: Domestic and sexual violence and sexual assault are issues intimately tied with a person’s sexual health status, and we seek to recognize those connections and address them in a non-judgmental manner. Using a risk-reduction model, our advocates provide guidance in all matters related to sexual health and sexuality in both individual and group settings. Our aim is to advocate for our clients, giving victims and survivors of abuse the tools and information so that they may take ownership of their bodies and sexualities.
In conjunction with our other programs, our Sexual Health Advocacy program works to highlight the importance of sexual health and fulfillment in the overall healing process.
The core components of this program are:
one-on-one consultations & advocacy around sexual health and sexuality (which can include rapid HIV testing if desired)
educational groups that touch upon domestic violence, risk-reduction, body image, sexual health, safety-planning, healthy relationships, how to talk to youth about sex, and more! Groups can be tailored to fit audiences and different community settings. Based on need and availability, we can also provide childcare and help with bus-passes!
trainings for providers/staff on issues of Domestic Violence and sexuality (health, sexual orientation, risk reduction methods for specific populations, HIV/AIDS, etc.)
educational workshops and special events for the public, including collaborative forums, conferences (like the annual Got Ur Game On? conference through the RI HIV Prevention Coalition) and health fairs
All of these services are offered in English as well as Spanish, and with particular attention paid to the group's composition, so we can tailor our services to the population and their background. The groups and workshops take place both on-site at our Smith Street office as well as at other community organizations and partner agencies (or wherever we may be needed!).
THEIA Project
Sojourner House’s newest program is the THEIA (Trafficking Housing Empowerment Immigration Advocacy) Project. A collaborative effort between Sojourner House and Project Weber/RENEW, the THEIA Project provides safe shelter and supportive services to victims of human trafficking. THEIA Project clients have access to safe housing, basic needs, support groups, immigration advocacy, case management services, life-skills training, and trauma-informed supportive services. THEIA Project clients develop personalized plans with a case manager outlining steps to help them to achieve safety and self-sufficiency. All THEIA Project clients will have access to Sojourner House’s and Project Weber/RENEW’s full continuum of programs and services. Case managers will also work with other community service providers in the state in order to meet all of the unique and diverse needs of THEIA Project’s clients. The goals of THEIA Project are 1) to provide safe and supportive housing to victims of human trafficking, 2) to promote recovery and personal success for victims of human trafficking, and 3) to empower victims of human trafficking to achieve safety and self-sufficiency. THEIA Project’s location is kept confidential in order to protect the safety and privacy of the victims and clients we serve.
Immigration Advocacy
In addition to the complex dynamics of domestic and sexual violence, the lack of immigration status results in another barrier to leaving abusive relationships. Undocumented victims often fall prey to abusers who use their legal status to coerce, abuse, threaten and control their victim.
Sojourner House is the only domestic and sexual violence agency in Rhode Island to be recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals to represent clients in their immigration cases, including, but not limited to, "U" Visas and VAWA self-petitions.
Drop In Advocacy
We offer domestic and sexual violence and human trafficking support services in English and Spanish at our Drop-In Advocacy and Resource Center located at 386 Smith Street in Providence. Our administrative offices are also housed here. Visit us!
From our Providence location you can:
Meet with an advocate
Join a support group
Schedule a training or workshop at your organization
Meet with our Volunteer Coordinator
Get a free HIV test by oral swab (Click for details, appointments recommended)
Deliver donations (Please call first)
Get information on how to help someone you think may be experiencing abuse
HOURS: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Se habla Español.
Where we work
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of bed nights (nights spent in shelter)
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Total bed nights provided by Sojourner House shelter programs during fiscal year 2022.
Number of people who received clinical mental health care
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In fiscal year 2022, Sojourner House provided 1,391 hours of clinical service for 175 clients.
Number of people received immigration service
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In fiscal year 2022, Sojourner House provided 186 clients with immigration assistance, totaling 1,599 sessions.
Number of nights of safe housing provided to families of domestic violence
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Sojourner House provided 88,474 residential bed nights to survivors of abuse during fiscal year 2022.
Number of groups/individuals benefiting from tools/resources/education materials provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In fiscal year 2022, Sojourner House provided 6,845 individuals with education services.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The overall goal of Sojourner House is to help victims to overcome abuse and trauma and move toward leading safe and successful lives in their communities. We aim to provide comprehensive wraparound services that give victims the ability to create a path toward recovering from abuse that makes most sense to them. We offer three emergency shelters – one for women and children, one for male-identified victims, and one specifically for victims of human trafficking. There is no time maximum for victims staying in our shelter and victims work with a victim advocate from the moment they walk through our doors to create a plan for achieving safety and personal success. Recognizing that shelter is not the end solution for victims, we also offer Rhode Island’s largest housing program specifically dedicated to victims of abuse, which includes transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and rapid re-housing. The rent is subsidized based on the client’s income and victims receive ongoing intensive case management services to help them with achieving self-sufficiency. For many of clients, overcoming trauma is the hardest step, which is why we operate a housing first model and do not require that victims participate in services to stay in our housing. Victims who do want to receive supportive services beyond case management are automatically connected to our full continuum of trauma-informed programming. Supportive services offered by Sojourner House include clinical therapy, support groups, immigration legal assistance, LGBTQ+ programming, sexual health advocacy, free HIV testing, financial literacy education, assistance with navigating the state and criminal justice systems, and assistance with accessing basic necessities. In addition to services for adult victims, we offer clinical therapy, support groups, expressive arts programming, victim advocacy, education/training, and a free summer camp for children who witness or experience abuse in their homes. Finally, Sojourner House offers the only drop-in advocacy and resource center in the greater Providence area, allowing victims the opportunity to walk-in during business hours and speak to an advocate without having to make an appointment. At the heart of our mission is to one day eliminate abuse in our community. By offering empowering and comprehensive services to victims, as well as education and training in our communities, we believe that we can, and we will, create a community where violence no longer exists.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Founded in 1976, the mission of Sojourner House is to promote healthy relationships by providing culturally sensitive support, advocacy, housing, and education for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking; and to effect systems change. Below is a breakdown of the strategies we implement to fulfill our mission:
-Promote healthy relationships: We empower victims through one-on-one education and peer support groups to regain their self-esteem and sense of self-worth. Abusers manipulate victims so much that many believe they are no longer worthy of being treated with respect, and they no longer recognize healthy versus unhealthy behaviors. We work with victims to re-discover their sense of self, to understand the dynamics of abuse, and to break free of the abuser tactics used to keep them trapped.
-Provide culturally sensitive support and advocacy: Abuse impacts victims in many ways and in response we offer a full array of services, allowing victims to determine the path toward recovering from abuse that makes most sense for them. Services offered include clinical therapy, case management services, legal assistance, assistance with researching and applying for housing or employment, tools for healthy parenting, and access to basic necessities. The services we provide are culturally responsive and we have programming that is specifically dedicated to some of our community’s most underserved, including immigrant, LGBTQ+, male-identified, low-income, and rural victims of abuse.
-Provide culturally sensitive housing: We have three emergency shelters and over 100 apartment units throughout the state for victims. We assist victims with obtaining housing, applying for financial support, and sustaining their housing long-term. We are viewed as an expert in the state on housing victims and provide training and technical assistance to other nonprofits to ensure that victims have access to informed and responsive services.
-Provide culturally sensitive education: We provide prevention education programming for youth in our community with the goal of training them to understand healthy versus unhealthy relationships and to become leaders in the movement to end violence, and we provide education and training in the community so everyone can understand the dynamics of abuse, how to effectively respond to victims, and the services available to help victims.
-Effect systems change: We sit on many statewide committees and coalitions dedicated to creating and enhancing policies to be victim-centered and culturally responsive to the needs of victims in the community. We are a member of the Rhode Island Continuum of Care, the RI Coalition for the Homeless, and the RI Human Trafficking Taskforce to name a few, which are all dedicated to improving the state’s response to abuse victims and offenders.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Sojourner House is led by an Executive Director, Vanessa Volz, with support from an 18-member volunteer board. Volz has been the Executive Director of Sojourner House since 2011 and has spearheaded the agency’s growth – leading it through the brink of extinction to now being a statewide leader in abuse and homelessness issues. She is a licensed attorney and has over sixteen years of experience working in nonprofits and in program, grants, and fiscal management. Volz has a core management team that is led by Teury Marte, Deputy Director of Programs. Marte joined Sojourner House as a Deputy Director of Program in 2019 and has 25 years of experience in human services, homelessness, and rehabilitation services. Also reporting to the Executive Director is the Deputy Director of Advancement, Sarah DeCataldo, who oversees all fundraising, development, and communications activities and helps to ensure that Sojourner House programs can be sustained in the long-term. DeCataldo, who joined Sojourner House in 2016, has her Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management and has close to 20 years of experience in the domestic violence and nonprofit fields. Other managers include the Director of Housing, the Director of Shelter Operations, the Director of Immigration Advocacy, the Director of Clinical Services, the Director of Community & Education Programs, the Drop-In Center Manager, and the Manager of LGBTQ+ Programs. All program managers are experts in their fields and each have over 10 years of experience. Sojourner House has a robust group of volunteers that assist with various tasks including supporting victims, fundraising, and general organizational support. The management team meets on a bi-weekly basis to stay informed on agency updates and to address strategies for long-term success and sustainability. Sojourner House also has various agency-wide committees, including committees to 1) assess racial justice both internally and externally, 2) collect and assess agency data, and 3) evaluate program success and client satisfaction. Sojourner House has been the recipient of many state and national awards, including the Rhode Island Foundation Nonprofit of Excellence Award for Innovation and the national Mary Byron Celebrating Solutions Award for Innovation.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Sojourner House has evolved from a small, grass-roots organization into a larger, multi-faceted organization that is having a significant impact on our community. Sojourner House opened its first emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence in 1979. In 1985, we launched our first program focused on providing services and prevention education to children. In 2002, our Advocacy Drop-in Center opened in Providence. It was, and still remains, the only comprehensive drop-in center for victims and community members in the greater Providence area. Our drop-in center offers victims critical supportive services when and where they need them most. In 2012, Sojourner House launched the first and only immigration advocacy programs for victims of domestic violence in Rhode Island, and in 2015 it launched Rhode Island's only domestic violence residential program for male victims of abuse. Furthermore, in 2016 Sojourner House launched two new residential programs - a shelter for victims of human trafficking and a permanent supportive housing program for victims. Also in 2016, we updated our mission to include serving victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. In 2017, we launched our rapid re-housing program for victims. Finally, in 2020, we formally updated our mission to include serving victims of human trafficking and offering housing as a key component of our work as well as our ability to provide services statewide. We have bene awarded a half million dollar grant from the federal Office for Victims of Crime to provide transitional housing for victims of human trafficking – the first OVC trafficking grant awarded in the state of Rhode Island.
We have experienced tremendous growth over the past five years. In FY15, we had 14 staff members, a $712,750 budget, and two residential programs. For FY20, we had 30 full-time and 5 part- time staff, a $3.2 million budget, and 6 residential programs. The numbers of clients that we are supporting now is higher than ever, demonstrating that this growth was, and continues to be necessary.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Sojourner House, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 10/18/2023
PhD Kirsti Yllo
Prutha Patel
Anthony Roberson
Kersti Yllo Ph.D.
Erin Biebuyck
Gina Pellicano
Mahrukh Anwar
Joanne Chang
Dr. Sapna Chowdhry
Judith Clare
Edward D'Arezzo
Justine Dunlap
Kevin Escudero, PH.D.
Richard Godfrey
Mary Halpin
Tara S. McClary
Neal J. McNamara
Lamel Moore
Xenia Murphy
Elizabeth O'Neil
Brayden Puddington
Henry Silva
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
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Gender identity
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Transgender Identity
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Sexual orientation
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Disability
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