GOOD SHEPHERD SERVICES

SAFE HOMES PROJECT NEWS

18th Annual Domestic Violence Vigil Remembers Those Lost and Honors Survivors

On October 14, 2011 staff of The Safe Homes Project gathered with volunteers, participants, supporters, and community members to light 20 candles in memory of those who died as a result of domestic violence this past year in Brooklyn.  This annual event marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month and also honors survivors of domestic violence.  Dr. Adwoa Akhu, a survivor who joined SHP's support group ten years ago, and is now a psychologist and advocate, shared her moving story with assembled guests.  Dr. Akhu is the author of "Metamorphosis: Journaling the Path from Domestic Violence Victim to Victor."  Gabriella Calender of the musical group "Mahina Movement", who witnessed domestic violence as a child and is also a survivor, played beautiful and powerful songs of healing.  City Councilmember Brad Lander, and Assembly Member James Brennan addressed those assembled and praised Safe Homes for their 35 years of work on behalf of victims and survivors of domestic violence. more

SHP Receives Funding from The Mary Kay Foundation

Good Shepherd Services is delighted to announce that our Safe Homes Project has been chosen to receive a $20,000 grant from The Mary Kay Foundation as part of the organization's annual $3 million national domestic violence grant program.  Safe Homes is one of 150 domestic violence organizations participating in the program. The grant will be used to support the shelter component of Safe Homes, a program that began in 1976 as a network of volunteer host homes offering short-term shelter to victims of domestic violence and their children, the very first "safe homes" network in New York State.  Today, our shelter maintains 20 beds and offers a broad range of services, including immediate shelter for victims of domestic violence; a crisis hotline; crisis intervention and counseling; safety planning; bilingual support groups; and advocacy with legal, criminal justice, welfare, and other systems.

"This grant is such a blessing to Safe Homes in a variety of ways," said Catherine Hodes, Program Director of Safe Homes Project,  "and will help us to make up for a deficit in funding this year.  Domestic violence is not going away and deserves very serious attention.  Programs to help battered women and their children require a lot of resources.  That's why we are so thankful The Mary Kay Foundation is helping us help families throughout New York City."

According to the second "Mary Kay Truth About Abuse" national survey conducted in March 2011, domestic violence shelters indicate the economic downturn has increased demand for services. Shelters also report that the ability to raise funds and provide services will be hampered into 2012. Due to the economy, the survey also revealed:

80 percent of domestic violence shelters nationwide (more than three out of four) report an increase in women seeking assistance from abuse, and most attribute this to financial issues.

76 percent of domestic violence shelters (three out of four) indicate their funding has decreased.

65 percent of women in shelters can't find employment due to the economy.

56 percent of shelters note the abuse is more violent now than before the economic downturn.

"In light of the economic downturn and alarming increases in domestic violence, The Mary Kay Foundation's mission is more critical than ever before.  Good Shepherd's Safe Homes Project has helped so many women and their families in the New York City area. We know they will use these funds to benefit even more domestic violence survivors and their children and help end domestic violence," said Jennifer Cook, The Mary Kay Foundation board member. 

Spring 2011 Safe Homes Newsletter

Click here to read all the latest news from the Safe Homes Project.

Joyful Heart Staff Retreat

Safe Homes Project staff took part in a retreat day on November 19, 2010 through the generosity of the Joyful Heart Foundation. 

Allison Tallis, a facilitator from Joyful Heart led the group in breathing and movement exercises, as well as writing and art activities designed to promote self-care and reconnection.  Geleni Fontaine, a licensed acupuncturist, also donated her services and gave staff members ear acupuncture to reduce stress and promote healing.

Raising Awareness of Domestic Violence

Two October events highlighted the issue of domestic violence while raising awareness of the crime of domestic and intimate partner violence.  Held during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, they also highlighted the work that Good Shepherd' Safe Homes Project (SHP) does to help victims/survivors take steps towards safety and self-sufficiency and to increase public knowledge of the issue.

On October 22nd, SHP sponsored the 17th Annual Domestic Violence Remembrance Vigil in Park Slope, Brooklyn, to both "remember those who have been lost and honor those who survive."  Approximately 75 people, including survivors, service providers and supporters of the program, participated in this moving event.  Brooklyn District Attorney, Charles Hynes and Councilmember Brad Lander were on hand with words of encouragement for those present.  Thirteen candles were lit to commemorate the 13 individuals who lost their lives due to domestic violence in Brooklyn during the past year.  Two survivors shared their powerful stories of overcoming abuse and all attendees received a journal of poetry written by SHP support group members.

The following week, a special performance of The Maria Project was held to honor and celebrate the work of SHP at the 13th Street Repertory Theater.  The Maria Project is a powerful narrative about a Spanish-American family's secret history of domestic violence.  Developed and performed by Marcella Goheen, this solo theater performance gives voice to those silenced and speaks to the legacy of violence and healing.  More information is available at http://www.themariaproject.com/.

Raising Youth Awareness

In 2006, SHP launched the Healthy Youth Relationship Options (HYRO) Initiative.  The project focused on bringing information, training, and outreach to young people in Good Shepherd's Brooklyn Young Adult Borough Centers (YABC).  Together with a community organizing intern from Hunter College School of Social Work, SHP recruits interested interns from the YABC programs, provides them with 20 hours of training in healthy relationships and abuse prevention, and then mentors them as peer educators.  The interns then choose an abuse-awareness project to create and present to their school communities.  For example in 2006, the HYRO interns produced a Healthy Relationships "zine," which included definitions, stories and resources, and was distributed to 300 YABC students and staff.

Expanding our Work with LGBTQ Survivors

If you are an LGBTQ victim of intimate partner violence, please call our Safe Homes Project Hotline 718-499-2151, Monday -Friday 9-5, or after 5 p.m. please call 1-800-621-HOPE (4673).

From our earliest days, SHP has worked with lesbian and bisexual women battered in intimate relationships with other women.  In 2000, SHP also began offering services, including shelter, to transgender women who were survivors of partner violence, making it one of the first domestic violence shelters in New York State to do so.

In collaboration with the NYC Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, and the NYS LGBTQ Domestic Violence Network, through which we received funding for training, outreach, and education, we are now offering our non-residential services, including counseling, advocacy, safety planning, and support group, to all LGBTQ survivors of intimate partner violence.  SHP is also a member of the NYC LGBTQ Domestic Violence Task Force and was a lead organizer on the 2006 and 2007 "Real Lives, Real Survivors" conferences dealing with LGBTQ intimate partner violence.