2nd Annual #SafeHouse Strong Virtual

It's time again for the #SafeHouseStrong Virtual 5K!

Run or walk the race distance at your own pace, time and location of your choosing. You choose your race day between August 19th-22nd, 2021 and your own starting line, whether it’s a treadmill, a park or your neighborhood street. Be sure to use #SafeHouseStrong while training and during your Virtual Walk/Run! 

The funds raised go directly to support SafeHouse, an organization dedicated to providing critical domestic and sexual violence response, prevention and intervention programs for the communities of Shelby, Coosa, Clay, and Chilton Counties.

Packet Pick-up: 

• Wednesday, August 11th    2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
• Thursday, August 12th       4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Race packets pick-up will be at 262 Yeager Parkway | Pelham, AL | 35124

The first 100 to register receive a free cooling towel. 

Click HERE to sign-up!

Big Announcement!

We've grown a lot over the last 9 years.

SafeHouse services have expanded since moving into the office space on Yeager Parkway in August 2012. Moving these few miles will make our office more accessible and provide room to keep growing.  

Effective August 1, 2021 the administrative office, community programs, and SANE services of SafeHouse will be located at: 

2060 Highway 33 (Parker Plaza)
Pelham, Al 35124

Programs included in the move: 

• Administrative and business operations
• Forensic and medical services of SafeShelby
• Community education and outreach 
• Domestic violence and sexual assault counseling 

For the first time, all of these programs will be housed in the same suite, allowing for more effective wrap-around services! 

SafeHouse staff are working hard to ensure a smooth transition, and all services including the 24/7 crisis line will remain operational during the move.

3 Moving Tips for Domestic Abuse Survivors

 

If you’ve just left an abusive relationship, don’t worry, you’re not alone. In fact, 1 in 3 women have been victims of some sort of physical violence by an intimate partner, according to the NCADV (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence). Right now, it may be hard to think about moving, but the truth is, you need to get out of your current abusive situation and into safety. To help you navigate this hard situation, we’re here to give you some tips so that you can start to build a new life where you feel safe.

Get to a safe location

An exit plan is a necessity to have for when you decide to leave your relationship. Getting away safely is critical because often the abusive partner lashes out when a victim tries to leave. While you’re in your relationship, keep a journal and write down every single time that abuse happened. Take photos of the physical evidence, in case you need to prove it in the future. Figure out where you’re going to go and the details of how you’re going to get there. Are you going to go to a local women’s shelter or a close friend’s house? Are you going to take your car or have someone pick you up? If you decide to drive your own car, make sure your gas tank is full. Make sure you have money saved up in case you need to stay at a hotel for a while.

Don’t forget to pack a bag with your ID, birth certificate, credit cards, Social Security card, clothes, marriage license, and any other belongings you may need. Before you leave, erase your Internet browsing history. If you want to create a false trail for your significant other, you can call real estate agents and hotels at least four to six hours from where you plan to move.

 Find a new area to live

 Figure out what cities you want to live in. Look into the safest areas to reside in those cities. What is your budget, and what are these homes going to cost? We recommend moving out of the city you’re currently in, in order to make it more difficult for your abuser to find you or contact you. Don’t consider anywhere that you’ve talked about with your abuser or anything that’s too obvious. This could increase the odds of them finding you in your new city. Moving can be very expensive, but there are some moving companies that offer free services to domestic abuse survivors, so do your research. They will ensure you get to your new location safely, no matter how much money you have.

 Don’t rush the home-buying process

You’ve already been through so much, and moving is only adding to your stress. On top of that, it can be a stressful process buying a new home, so don’t feel like you have to buy one immediately. If you need to save up money or decide on an area you can start a new life, you can rent an apartment or stay in a hotel until you decide if you want to buy.

When you’re in an abusive relationship, it’s important to get away safely as soon as you can. Then, you can start to build a new life for yourself and start to heal your body, mind, and heart.

 

SafeHouse is committed to supporting victims of domestic violence and getting them the help they need. Call (205) 669-7233 to speak to a trained advocate.

 

Special thanks to our guest blogger, Nora, from threedaily.org. 

Photo: Unsplash

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

 

Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault benefit from counseling services. 

"Domestic violence and/or Sexual Assault are extremely traumatizing experiences and the emotional scars associated with this abuse can often outlast the physical impact.

Domestic violence and Sexual Assault survivors are at a high risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse or stress-related mental health conditions. Survivors can have upsetting memories or flashbacks, fear or a sense of danger that they cannot overcome. They may feel numb or disconnected from the rest of the world. Learning to cope with residual emotional pain and fears is essential to healing.

Breaking the isolation of domestic violence by seeking counseling and support from friends and family can help survivors to move forward. Counseling sessions provide a safe and confidential environment for survivors to express their feelings, thoughts and fears. Counselors are nonjudgmental who listens and can help survivors work through the things that they are experiencing.

Speaking with a counselor can help survivors deal with anxiety and find ways to relieve that stress. We can help to process traumatic memories or experiences so that it is possible to move on. They can also aid survivors in learning to regulate their strong emotions like fear and anger.

Group counseling can also be beneficial. Attending a group session can allow survivors to connect with others who have been through similar situations. Connecting with these people can reduce the feeling of isolation often created by abusers. Other survivors can also offer advice on how they got through tough situations.

If you or someone you know is experiencing such abuse, please contact the crisis line at 205-669-7233. We at SafeHouse of Shelby County will be glad to assist in getting the help for you!" 

-Wanda, Counseling Coordinator at the SafeHouse Shelter 

#SAAM

Safe At Home Auction

SafeHouse is on the front lines providing life-saving and life changing services to individuals and families escaping domestic violence. The COVID-19 healthcare crisis has shed light on the fact that not everyone is “safe” or “safer” at home. Throughout this crisis, SafeHouse has provided a safe and secure shelter for individuals and families escaping domestic violence.

Join us for our first ever online auction! Every dollar raised directly benefits victim/survivors and their families and allows us to continue providing critical services in our community. 

 Auction items include: 

• Signed Nick Saban football (Roll Tide!) 
• Signed Bryan Harsin football (War Eagle!) 
• Spa Packages 
• Assorted Gift Baskets 
• Much more to come! 

More information available on the auction website

The History of SafeHouse

It's Women's History Month, and we're taking some to reflect on the history of SafeHouse.

SafeHouse was founded by a group of concerned citizens who realized the great need for a domestic violence shelter in Shelby County. 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. SafeShelby SANE Clinic opened in December 2016 to provide sexual assault forensic exams and follow-up services.

Today, SafeHouse continues to grow and to provide life-saving services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. In 2020 our staff assisted 450 clients. We can't wait to see where SafeHouse will go in 2021!