Dear SafeHouse Community,
At SafeHouse the work we do is often heavy; we confront the weight of trauma daily. Our mission is to lift up individuals who have been violated, in body, mind, and spirit, often by those people meant to cherish them. Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are then often faced with disbelief and blame, sometimes from society, sometimes from their loved ones, and sometimes from the gatekeepers of the support and resources they need for justice and healing. This work can be very disheartening.
On the heavy days, I remind myself to look up and look around—to see my colleagues, the SafeHouse board members and volunteers, and our clients too who lift each other up. I’m reminded of the proverb “many hands make light work,” the idea that working together we can do impossible, audacious things. We can dare to make the world a better place. And the success and progress we experience comes as a result of the work of the many hands who hold a survivor as they walk through the aftermath.
Sometimes It Works
When a police officer responds to a domestic violence call, having undergone extensive training in DV situations and swiftly identifies the gravity of the situation, it is a result of our collective efforts. When law enforcement prioritizes a victim’s safety and connects them to SafeHouse and shelter, they pave the way for immediate support and protection. This coordinated response saves lives, but also instills trust in survivors, making it more likely that the next person in need will seek help.
When an advocate works closely with a survivor to craft a personalized safety plan, it reflects our commitment to holistic support. When the judges then recognize the value of these efforts and consider the safety plan when it comes to issuing protection orders, this is the system operating in a collaborative and survivor-centered manner.
When, in a moment of crisis, a survivor of sexual assault relies on our services for immediate support and guidance—that is a sign of the expanding reach and community awareness of SafeHouse. When a survivor experiences the seamless coordination of the forensic examination, counseling resources, and legal advocacy, it reinforces their sense of agency and hope.
When our partners in the community invite us into their spaces, their schools, their churches, and they listen and learn from us and the lessons we have learned in doing this work, that is an incredible start. When they take those lessons into their communities and change the world around them—that is success.
Sometimes it Doesn’t Work
The path of a survivor should be seamless; from the first phone call for help to connection to services, there should be a standard of care. At SafeHouse we are doing our best to make certain that survivors have what they need. But the reality for survivors usually means a path that is not seamless but difficult and full of obstacles. It takes all of us in the many sectors of society, working, communicating, and committing to the cause to remove burdens from the shoulders of survivors and set them on a path to healing. It takes all of us to work towards the end of these soul-wounding crimes and towards a safe and just world.
April is coming. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and we have a lot of plans. Stay tuned on social media pages. There will be opportunities to get educated, to support our work, and to raise awareness. We hope you’ll join our community of many hands.
Warmly
Janelle Sierra
Executive Director
SafeHouse
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