Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence Inc.

There is a persistent perception in the community that domestic violence is a crisis in the lives of survivors, a short term problem that can be addressed through short term solutions like shelter and law enforcement/legal interventions. While emergency shelter and crisis intervention are critical services to the community, stopping the immediate cycle of violence and keeping people safe, survivors also face chronic impediments that require a long term commitment and systemic change. SPAN’s Emergency Shelter and crisis intervention services save lives, particularly as we see a sharp increase in the number of high-risk perpetrators shelter residents are fleeing in recent years. But it is our profound commitment to providing a comprehensive continuum of long-term holistic programming that offers both survivors and the community the best Return on Investment (ROI) in terms of positive outcomes and the prevention of future violence.

SPAN’s strategic goals for 2019 are: 1. Provide meaningful and effective support and resources to adults, children and youth impacted by interpersonal violence, including crisis intervention and emergency shelter, and the longer, deeper, broader services needed for clients to become self-sufficient and stable. 2. Increase and diversify the organization’s capacity to provide the intensive case management and integrated resource facilitation that individuals traumatized by violence need to address the logistical barriers to self-sufficiency. 3. Strive for organizational excellence. Address fundamental financial, administrative, and infrastructure issues that impact both the organization’s ability to meet the compelling and complicated needs of clients and its long term financial well-being and sustainability.

SPAN began providing services in 1979. Today a staff of 39 provide immediate crisis intervention and safe, confidential shelter to survivors of interpersonal violence. SPAN also offers a comprehensive continuum of services that foster the self-sufficiency, emotional healing, and stability that survivors and their children need to transcend chronic cycles of abuse. SPAN promotes nonviolence and social justice through violence prevention education, specialized community trainings, and anti-violence/anti-oppression coalition building.

A highly skilled and diverse staff provides trauma- informed services to more than 2,100 adult and child victims annually through SPAN’s direct service programs and reaches another 10,000 students and community members with violence prevention resources. 60% of SPAN staff is bilingual, 45% hold masters’ degrees, and 56% have worked in victim services for 5+ years (16% for 15 years or more).

In 2018 SPAN touched more than 10,900 lives, including responding to 8,865 crisis hotline calls, providing emergency shelter to 246 adults and 95 children, supporting 675 individuals with crisis intervention and legal advocacy, supporting 718 adults and children with counseling services, and providing intensive transitional services including housing support to 310 individuals and families. Overall, 96% of people receiving SPAN’s services in 2018 reported an improvement in safety and stability. At SPAN’s Emergency Shelter, 91% of adult shelter residents reported enhanced strategies for safety and increased knowledge of resources as a result of their time in shelter. 96% of SPAN's counseling clients reported better strategies for safety and reduced isolation and emotional distress. In 83% of cases where SPAN’s Advocacy Program provided support during the process of applying for a protection order, the survivor reported a successful outcome from the courts.