We’re All Feeling It: Facing National Change Together

 

Dear SafeHouse Supporters,

 

Right now, we’re facing a period of significant uncertainty. With shifts in the current presidential administration have come policy changes and funding decisions that are already impacting nonprofits like SafeHouse—and the people we serve. We know that transitions in leadership can bring upheaval, but the effects we’re seeing now are especially destabilizing.

Regardless of political affiliation or whether you personally support these changes, the atmosphere they’ve created is difficult to ignore. Many of us are feeling confused. Worried. Powerless. Afraid for our future, and for the futures of our children. It’s an emotional weight that builds with each troubling headline and each new challenge to our mission. We’ve already faced financial losses due to recent federal decisions. We know how scary that is—not just for our staff or clients, but for you, our community of supporters who care deeply about survivors and the work SafeHouse does.

And it’s not just organizations like ours that are feeling the strain—these changes often show up in our personal lives too. Rising costs, shifts in healthcare access, changes to safety net programs, and the stress of divisive rhetoric—it’s a lot for any individual or family to navigate. We want you to know that we see it. We feel it too. We’re not just standing beside survivors—we’re walking through these same uncertain days alongside you.

So what can we do—individually, as a community, and as an organization—when so much feels uncertain?

 

We turn toward each other.

 

When national support feels shaky, our local support becomes even more vital. We invest in our neighborhoods, our towns, and each other. That’s how we keep going. That’s how we make it through.

And we see it happening already. Just last month, we held our most successful 5K fundraiser ever. You heard our call and showed up in record numbers. You ran, you donated, you volunteered. You reminded us that when times get tough, this community doesn’t turn away—it leans in.

Our volunteers continue to show up and show out. In response, we’re revamping our volunteer program to make it even easier for folks to get involved. Because we believe community engagement should be accessible—and joyful.

I also encourage you to take your voice beyond SafeHouse.

Attend your local town hall. Register to vote. Show up to the polls. Speak out about issues that matter to you. Whether it’s at the ballot box or at your neighborhood BBQ, these are the spaces where meaningful change begins.

 

Connection is our greatest resource.

 

So go to that choir practice. Chat with the other parents at the bus stop. Check in on your neighbor. It’s not always easy—we still have jobs, families, and responsibilities—but the more we humanize each other, the more resilient we become. And the more prepared we are to help each other through whatever comes next.

These may be uncertain, even unprecedented, times. But the path forward is clear: we face it together.

 

With gratitude and hope,

Janelle Sierra

Executive Director

SafeHouse