Jessica Hipchen

Project Safe Inc.

Project Safe Inc. of Athens, Georgia is asking for $15,000 by May 2015 for a project involving the expansion and renovation of its confidentially located emergency shelter for women and children who are homeless due to domestic violence.

Victims of domestic violence experience harm and injury from physical and sexual abuse, trauma from emotional abuse and coercive control, and often lack knowledge, safety skills and resources to escape the violence without increasing the risk of danger from a controlling batterer. Those with minimal education and work experience often cannot afford to meet basic needs and become homeless or remain in unsafe situations. In 2014 Project Safe sheltered 139 women and children in their emergency shelter or in a motel (on nights when we were full). We maintained a 101% occupancy rate throughout the year. However, we receive many more requests for shelter than we can fulfill, and wind up referring women and families to shelters in other communities because we don’t have the room in our facility. Furthermore, the current layout means that multiple families or multiple single women wind up sharing small bedrooms and bathrooms. The cramped quarters and shared space among strangers—most of whom have been through traumatic experiences and some of whom may have mental illnesses or addictions as well—can lead to conflict, stress and even fights among some of the residents. Women may leave the shelter at first opportunity, prior to achieving their goals. Additionally, our facility lacks sufficient storage space for resident belongings, office space for staff and volunteers, and private space for counseling or individual client meetings. By reconfiguring the existing programming unit to better suit resident needs adding additional offices, storage space, and 5 new bedrooms, Project Safe will resolve these issues.

The shelter is a small apartment building with a current capacity of 16 beds and 4 cribs. We purchased the building in 2002 and paid off the mortgage fully in 2004. The shelter is a fundamental part of our short-term crisis intervention and serves to protect survivors of domestic violence who are in danger and without other means of safe housing. The project involves increasing the number of bedrooms from 4 to 9, increasing the number of client bathrooms from 4 to 7, moving the children’s playroom from its current corner location to one just off the common area in the programming unit with a half wall dividing the 2 spaces, increasing private counseling rooms from 1 to 2, creating a dedicated support group room in the programming unit, increasing the size of the main office from 13x16 sqft to 19x19, and adding storage for shelter supplies and for resident belongings.

The Executive Director Joan Prittie has a background in law and has worked with Project Safe for over fifteen years, overseeing multiple expansion projects from its very small startup size. The Board of Directors come from various fields, all working within the Athens-Clarke County community. One commonality between each of these people is that they share the passion of ending domestic violence.

A total of 139 women and children were sheltered in 2014 in our emergency shelter or in a motel (on nights when we were full), with an average stay of 90 days per family and an average of 20 women and children sheltered on any given day. Data for the measurements of

success are recorded and determined through anonymous surveys and file reviews, including client well-being, achievement of individualized client goals, and managing personal safety. In 2014, 91% of clients reported that Project Safe accommodated their religion, culture, orientation, etc., 90% of all clients individual needs were met, 100% of clients worked with a case manager to develop a customized plan including personal goals to help them achieve independence and self-sufficiency, 96% of clients exiting the shelter achieved their stated housing goal or safe housing of some kind, 91% of clients reported that they were aware of ways to manage their safety after obtaining Project Safe services, and 92% of clients reported that they have a better understanding of domestic violence and its effects after their experience with Project Safe.

The total cost of this project is $377,715. To date we have received a total of $281,000 toward this total cost. This includes contributions from board members and the executive director, other donors, private foundations, and a pledge of approximately $75,000 worth of labor and construction materials. We will be completely sustainable with the financial assistance coming from our local supporters if we are able to acquire this $15,000, which is why we are asking for your support.