TRI-VALLEY HAVEN FOR WOMEN

Tri-Valley Haven aims to end violence against women and children, and provide services in such a manner that helps end violence for the individual, family, and the community. As a part of this work, we try to strengthen families at every opportunity. Recognizing that economic crisis creates incredible stress on vulnerable families, particularly in our high-cost of living area, we also provide shelter and counseling to residents experiencing homelessness and hunger. All of our work is part of a larger movement to build peace in families and communities.

We offer comprehensive intervention services including shelter, counseling, a 24-hour crisis line with responsive care, a rape crisis center, counseling for inmates in prison who have been sexually assaulted, a legal clinic, and a food pantry. In addition, we provide extensive prevention and anti-bullying activities in the local schools. Our outreach includes attending several community fairs and events to educate people about violence and strategies for ending it. The Haven holds community awareness events throughout the year, such as a Candlelight Walk for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Awareness Months, and a Pace for Peace walk/run twice per year as well as collaborative activities with the local college, school, church and civic groups.

The Tri-Valley Haven has nearly 40 years of experience providing services to people facing crisis. We have a team of professional counselors, advocates, and case managers on staff as well as a broad volunteer base who help with many of our activities and events. We have a 30-bed domestic violence shelter and a 16-bed homeless shelter as well as a community building in Livermore which houses our rape crisis center in addition to our administrative offices. We also meet with clients for counseling sessions at our community building, and we will soon be opening a second office in Pleasanton for the same purpose. We have the confidence and backing of many organizations in the area, and we have operational agreements with more than 60 organizations including police departments, school districts, district attorney's offices, social service agencies, and other domestic violence and homeless shelters.

We serve thousands of people in crisis each year, and by providing shelter, food, and crisis counseling, we have helped make them safer. Many clients have gone on to full employment and permanent housing. One formerly battered woman is now on our Board of Directors. Tri-Valley Haven has achieved agreements to conduct anti-bullying and healthy relationship education activities in the local schools.

We have not ended violence in our service area, which is the larger task, but all the activities at Tri-Valley Haven are helping build a stronger, more caring communities that reject violence and promote peace.