Family Renewal Shelter

Long ago we determined that to truly help domestic violence victims we needed to address all the obstacles these families encounter when trying to re-establish a new life and livelihood. Even with the bare essentials of a safe home, household furnishings, transportation, and employment, life for a newly freed victim of domestic violence can often seem overwhelming. The success of our program lies in our ability to provide families of domestic violence with the practical means to safe and independent living. While at the same time offering a long-term commitment to helping them overcome the many mental and emotional challenges they encounter on their journey to healthy independent living. We offer all the necessities of life including housing, clothing and food but we also make available additional help that we find can be profoundly beneficial such as: Emergency transportation and relocation, emergency client contact, victim advocacy and transportation from hospitals, emergency motel housing, taxi transportation, advocacy based counseling. While we primarily serve women, two-thirds of our residents in the shelter are children.  For this reason we provide large outdoor and indoor play areas and equipment as well as a computer technology center. Our computer education and counseling center also allows women to pursue employment, housing, educational and legal opportunities, as well as numerous other resources and services that can help them transition from emergency confidential shelter to safe and independent living situations. An auto donation program makes well running cars available to residents of our program when available. Many families have been able to relocate across country  in vehicles from our auto donation program. An on-site auto repair shop provides mechanic services and repair. Informal pet therapy is provided by our therapy dogs, Maggie, Meekah and Jack, as well a number of chickens and rabbits. An on-site pet kennel is provided so that the beloved pets do not have to be abandoned by families who are leaving a violent home. Relocation funds are provided to those who are at great personal risk and are being forced to leave the area for their safety. A national 24-hour crisis line is staffed to provide advice, counsel and safety/escape planning to anyone in need. As men can also be victims of domestic violence, crisis intervention and referral services are provided to those who need them.