History & Mission

History

Since 1989, SafeHouse has given hope, saved lives and served our community.

SafeHouse was founded by a group of concerned citizens who realized the great need for a domestic violence shelter in Shelby County. The original home was donated by Sherman Holland and still stands in an area located behind Wal-Mart in Pelham, AL. In 1991 a larger shelter was purchased and the community needs continued to grow. In July of 1999, the Caroline E. Jackson Child Development Center was opened, providing free daycare and prevention services for pre-school children who had witnessed domestic violence. In 2003, the SafeHouse Board of Directors launched a multi-year campaign to construct much needed facilities required to carry out our mission and meet the needs of our community. In 2007, The Caroline E. Jackson Center for Women and Children opened a 56 bed emergency shelter offering immediate safe shelter for survivors and their children. The current facility is staffed 24 hours a day and offers supportive services such as childcare, case management, safety planning, referrals and information, individual, family, and group counseling support.

SafeHouse, a non-profit organization, operates on grants, community support and individual donations. Our staff has responded to thousands of crisis calls and has provided safe haven for over 5,000 victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. SafeHouse provides all services free of charge

Mission

Our mission is to empower survivors of domestic and sexual violence through support and advocacy and to educate the community to prevent future abuse.

To this end, SafeHouse acts as a catalyst for change working toward a safe future for all. As one of Alabama’s leading providers of these life-changing and life-saving services, SafeHouse staff and volunteers are dedicated to offering the resources to empower survivors.

Providing services to survivors is key to ending domestic and sexual violence, yet without solid and effective prevention and intervention programs, education, and social change, the violence will continue.

We strive to one day exist in a community that has eliminated domestic violence and sexual assault as a result of social change and education. In order for that to happen we need everyone to share the same message that there is help and there is hope.