Top Nonprofits | Safe Harbor
Making It Possible To Live Without Fear
Serving both St. Tammany and Washington parishes, Safe Harbor helps battered women overcome domestic violence and govern their own lives, free of abuse. The center also works to raise public awareness about domestic violence, advocate for the rights of battered women and create an agenda for social change. Since its inception in 1992, Safe Harbor provides shelter to domestic violence survivors, as well as offers counseling and helps survivors start a new life by offering leads on jobs and housing. Safe Harbor Interim Executive Director Ann Winstead says the incidence of domestic violence has increased in the parish since the storm. Winstead said in the nine months before Katrina the shelter housed 49 domestic violence survivors. From February to December 2006, the number increased to 150 women and children. Since January of 2007, Winstead said the shelter has helped 115 survivors. She said there are still signs of domestic abuse being directly related to post-Katrina stress.
Included in the increase of reported domestic violence cases is a disturbing trend of seeing more severe injuries on the survivors of domestic violence. “Some of the injuries require surgery,” Winstead said. Safe Harbor is a non-profit organization that is funded by local, state and federal grants, plus donations from the public. However, lately, Safe Harbor has been depending more and more on donations in order to survive. “Grant money is being reduced,” Winstead said. Safe Harbor has also seen an increase in survivors coming from out of the parish and even from out of the state, Winstead said. Domestic violence survivors can call the LCADV at 1-888-411-1333 and the person will be directed to a shelter in their area. In St. Tammany and Washington Parishes, women can call Safe Harbor directly at 985-626-5710. Winstead said the shelter also gets a lot of referrals from local law enforcement agencies. Women and children can stay at Safe Harbor for 45 days. All services are free and confidential. Survivors are guided through daily advocacy sessions, working on short- and long-term goals. These may include life skills, education, referrals to other community agencies, women empowerment groups and parenting classes. After exiting the shelter, the survivors and children continue to attend these groups. “We provide a much needed service for the area, and thanks to our community agencies and our caring, hardworking staff, the end result is a new beginning for these women and children,” Winstead said. To help out Safe Harbor, call 985-626-5710 or send donations to Safe Harbor, P.O. Box 1179, Mandeville, LA, 70470.
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