The Women's Safe House

RESIDENTIAL SERVICES - The Women's Safe House (TWSH)Residential Services Program provided safe shelter and support services for 80 women and 112 dependent children who were facing homelessness while escaping violence in their own homes. We provided 15,942 nights of safety for these 192 women and children and served 6,267 meals and snacks. In 2021 we instituted a voluntary service model, letting women self-direct their relevant support as they best determine. Despite that, we achieved an 81% placement rate for the period ending December 2022. In the last year, 92% of the participants in the Womens' Safe House program indicated via voluntary survey response they felt less isolated and 84% of those surveyed developed a Personal Safety Plan, 83% of the residents indicated that their knowledge about the issues of domestic violence and community resources has increased due to support groups, community presentations, and case management sessions. Approximately 82% of children were able to identify a safe place or person in their lives. . The S.T.E.P.S.program (Successful Transitions by Empowering People with Services)is the only shelter program in the State of Missouri that offers a safety net post shelter with one year of advocacy, emergency financial assistance, case management and support groups. In 2022 we initiated a program where families (12) received weekly boxes of food valued at $30 - $60 per week. This flagship program at the Women's Safe House served 49 women and 81 children in 2022.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAM - $153,133 - The Children's Program is designed to meet the needs of infants and children and youth to age 18 who have witnessed and sometimes experienced violence in their homes. The Children's Program provides a comforting and nurturing environment where children can learn alternatives to violent behavior, improve their self-esteem, and learn positive ways of expressing themselves. With a designated children's case manager liason who works with the adult case managers and life coach, some 112 children and youth benefited from child- centered services at TWSH in 2022. Fifty-seven (57)children between the ages of 6 and 18 years completed surveys, pre- and post-tests. TWSH continued to strengthen its focus on children and youth interventions through a residential support program - Primary Prevention for Children and Youth Exposed to Domestic Violence. This early intervention and prevention piece features activities such as bystander intervention, teen dating violence strategies, and bullying, including cyber bullying, to help young people detect the signs of violence on the front- end before they become primary victims. There are weekly support groups, respite hours, field trips, holiday parties, and age-appropriate play. . VOLUNTEER PROGRAM - $31,869 - Volunteers make a difference at The Women's Safe House every day. Volunteer efforts include: serving on the Board of Directors, organizing fundraising and special events, organizing clothing and school supply drives, picking up donations, answering crisis calls, providing child care, working in the computer lab, assisting through clerical support or completing one-day projects such as painting residential rooms or helping with the grounds. Practicum students, interns and community service students play a major volunteer role at The Women's Safe House. Volunteers are recruited through public speaking and outreach at schools and universities, churches, civic groups, business and corporate organizations, healthcare, social welfare agencies and United Way. During 2022, volunteers provided 2,634 hours of support for our programs. Our volunteer program is certified through the United Way of Greater St. Louis. . COMMUNITY EDUCATION - $31,317 - The Women's Safe House remains committed to keeping our community informed about the problems and abuses associated with domestic violence and dispelling myths that perpetuate violence against women. Trained staff and volunteers are available to speak publicly about and against domestic violence. Information is disseminated through public speaking, the agency's quarterly newsletter, annual report, and other materials. The usual community presentations were suspended for 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic as no virtual/remote opportunities occurred. New efforts are planned for 2023.

CRISIS HOTLINE - TWSH operates a 24-hour crisis intervention hotline staffed 365 days a year. The Hotline serves as the primary intake for shelter residents and provides advocacy for women in crisis or those at-risk of domestic violence. In 2022, 1,249 hotline calls were answered with compassion and care by trained staff and volunteers. Immediate advocacy and support along with information and appropriate referrals were provided for each woman upon her first call for help. The Hotline also provides support, advocacy, and compassion to victims of abuse who simply need to talk and seek information and referrals for community resources.