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Safe Harbor Shelter Supports Healthy Relationships For All
December 2014
Safe Harbor focuses on not just helping those who have been affected by domestic or sexual violence, but helping all people to cultivate healthy relationships and healthy sexuality from the beginning. Safe Harbor Shelter was started in 2000 as part of St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond and they had their own house on the property that served as a shelter. The shelter still exists, but Jodi Leonard, the Director of Development and Community Relations, said that the shelter now only makes up about 3 percent of the services that Safe Harbor offers. They mainly work in Henrico County, but they work with their community partners to serve the entire Greater Richmond area.
It offers a 24-hour helpline, youth services, community and individual training, individual and group counseling, and court advocacy. They also have a shelter, but it is an emergency shelter, more of a last resort. They try to help the survivors however they can before placing them in the shelter.
Safe Harbor also offers hospital accompaniment. A volunteer with Safe Harbor will accompany victims to doctor’s appointments and hospital visits, if they would like. They also offer accommodations in and out of the hospital.
It offers a 24-hour helpline, youth services, community and individual training, individual and group counseling, and court advocacy. They also have a shelter, but it is an emergency shelter, more of a last resort. They try to help the survivors however they can before placing them in the shelter.
Safe Harbor also offers hospital accompaniment. A volunteer with Safe Harbor will accompany victims to doctor’s appointments and hospital visits, if they would like. They also offer accommodations in and out of the hospital.
It gets most of their funding from grant writing and their annual fund. Jodi Leonard, the Director of Development and Community Relations, estimated that about 1,000 people use their services each year. Safe Harbor offers services in both English and Spanish and they are able to help anyone, regardless of which language they speak, because of a 24-hour helpline.
Safe Harbor recently offered the Beacon of Hope Award to a community member, Susheela Varky, a staff attorney for the . The Beacon of Hope Award is given to an individual or group “who has been instrumental in empowering survivors of sexual and domestic violence and/or promoting healthy relationships for all.”
Different groups in the area can also request to have a representative from the shelter come speak with them. Safe Harbor’s website also has a page that offers advice on what to do if you want to help a friend or family member that has experience domestic or sexual violence. You can even call the helpline and speak to an advocate about what to do in different situations.
If you interested in supporting Safe Harbor, you can become a volunteer if you go through an intensive 6-week-long training program. The volunteers are organized into teams based on their interests. You can also donate money or goods, depending on what you have available. They accept food, household items, personal items, and even bus tickets and gift cards. You can visit the website (insert link to donation page) to see the full list of what they accept.
Safe Harbor Shelter’s hotline number is 804.612.6126. If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic or sexual violence, please do not hesitate to call.
Safe Harbor recently offered the Beacon of Hope Award to a community member, Susheela Varky, a staff attorney for the . The Beacon of Hope Award is given to an individual or group “who has been instrumental in empowering survivors of sexual and domestic violence and/or promoting healthy relationships for all.”
Different groups in the area can also request to have a representative from the shelter come speak with them. Safe Harbor’s website also has a page that offers advice on what to do if you want to help a friend or family member that has experience domestic or sexual violence. You can even call the helpline and speak to an advocate about what to do in different situations.
If you interested in supporting Safe Harbor, you can become a volunteer if you go through an intensive 6-week-long training program. The volunteers are organized into teams based on their interests. You can also donate money or goods, depending on what you have available. They accept food, household items, personal items, and even bus tickets and gift cards. You can visit the website (insert link to donation page) to see the full list of what they accept.
Safe Harbor Shelter’s hotline number is 804.612.6126. If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic or sexual violence, please do not hesitate to call.
