SAFE HOUSE INC
PO BOX 25363, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87125 www.safehousenm.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: SHELTER AND EMPOWER VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

SHELTER: DURING FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020, 599 PERSONS RECEIVED SHELTER SERVICES. OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, OUR SHELTER CAPACITY WAS REDUCED SO WE COULD ADEQUATELY MANAGE SOCIAL DISTANCING WHILE IN SHELTER. WE CONTINUED TO OPERATE AT REDUCED CAPACITY BUT UTILIZING LOCAL HOTELS TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS IN SHELTERING INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF A SAFE SPACE. ONCE A PERSON COMES INTO SHELTER, OUR RESIDENTS, INCLUDING THEIR CHILDREN, JOURNEY TO SAFETY, STABILITY, AND HEALING BEGINS. OUR STAFF, EQUIPPED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCES, APPROPRIATE TRAINING, AND 24/7 SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL ASSIST OUR RESIDENTS WITH CASE MANAGEMENT, INFORMAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION, CRISIS-INTERVENTION, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. EVERY RESOURCE AND SERVICE SPECIALIST (RSS) STAFF IS TRAINED TO PROVIDE EXTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE OUR RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO A MULTITUDE OF RESOURCES. WE ARE NOT JUST A SHELTER; WE ARE A PROGRAM AIMED AT NOT ONLY SHELTERING BUT EMPOWERING OUR RESIDENTS. THROUGH CASE MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY PLANNING, OUR GOAL IS TO EQUIP OUR RESIDENTS WITH THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND TOOLS SO THEY CAN RETURN TO COMMUNITY SAFELY AND MAINTAIN STABILITY. THROUGH TRAININGS AND STUDIES, WE KNOW MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE HAD TO RESORT TO VARIOUS COPING MEASURES TO DEAL WITH THE CRISIS AND TRAUMA OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SOME OF THOSE COPING METHODS INCLUDE SUBSTANCE USE, ALCOHOL USE, VIOLENCE AND INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. BECAUSE OUR RESIDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING THESE CHALLENGES; WE NOT ONLY REQUIRE OUR RSS STAFF TO BE COMPASSIONATE AND UNDERSTANDING, BUT AWARE, AND SUPPORTIVE. WE EXTEND SUPPORT BY LINKING OUR RESIDENTS WITH APPROPRIATE RESOURCES AND REFERRALS. TO PROMOTE A MORE PERSONAL AND HEALTHY HEALING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR RESIDENTS, S.A.F.E. HOUSE IS CURRENTLY REMODELING THE RESIDENT LIVING SPACES. NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TOP-NOTCH RESOURCES, BUT TO ADD A LIVING ENVIRONMENT TO ENCOURAGE PEACE AND HARMONY THAT WILL ADD TO A RESIDENT'S SUCCESSFUL JOURNEY OF HEALING. WHILE AT S.A.F.E. HOUSE JUST ABOUT EVERY POSSIBLE DAILY NEED IS TAKEN CARE OF SO OUR RESIDENTS FOCUS CAN BE ON SETTING AND ACHIEVING GOALS, UTILIZING THEIR RESOURCES, AND WORKING ON INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY HEALING. IN JANUARY OF 2020, A NEW POSITION WAS CREATED TO BRIDGE THE EDUCATIONAL GAP FOR CHILDREN IN SHELTER. THIS POSITION SERVES AS A LIAISON AND A CONDUIT BETWEEN ANY COMBINATION OF PARENTS/FAMILIES, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, COMMUNITY, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THIS POSITION SERVES AS THE SHELTER'S POINT OF CONTACT FOR ALL CHILD RELATED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. THIS POSITION ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE STAFF OF THE MCKINNEY-VENTO PROGRAM (MVP) IN NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. WE KNOW THAT SOME RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT HOMELESSNESS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO UNIQUE CHALLENGES IN THE FORM OF POOR HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN (MASTEN 2014). ADD TO THIS, THE CHALLENGES WHEN A CHILD HAS WITNESSED A VIOLENT EVENT WITHIN THE FAMILY UNIT. THE TRAUMA OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ALONE SETS A CHILD UP FOR FURTHER LIFE CHALLENGES, FURTHER LESSENING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESS IN THEIR ADULT LIFE. S.A.F.E. HOUSE IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN AGENCIES TO COURSE CORRECT HOW WE SUPPORT THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR A MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING WAS SIGNED BY S.A.F.E. HOUSE AND THE ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND SINCE THEN, WE HAVE IMMEDIATELY PUT INTO PLACE A PLAN FOR OPEN COMMUNICATION, SHARED COMMUNICATION AND A HOLISTIC PLAN OF EDUCATIONAL AND SUPPORTIVE CARE FOR THE CHILDREN WE SERVE. BY HIRING AN EDUCATIONAL LIAISON, WE WILL SEE THE CHANGE WE ALL HOPE FOR, FOR CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: DURING FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020, 79 FAMILIES ARE IN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND SERVICES, THIS INCLUDES 129 CHILDREN WITHIN THESE FAMILIES. OVER THE PAST YEAR AND DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, THE HOUSING PROGRAM HAD SEVERAL SUCCESSES. THE PROGRAM HAD A SUCCESS RATE OF 92% OF PARTICIPANTS REMAINING IN HOUSING OR LEAVING INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AT THE END OF THIS CONTRACT YEAR. MULTIPLE FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO TRANSITION INTO LONG-TERM LOW-INCOME HOUSING WITH HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS AND RECEIVED CONTINUED SUPPORT SERVICES TO ASSURE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION BETWEEN PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO ENSURE THAT ALL FAMILIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING FOR LONG-TERM LOW-INCOME HOUSING, INCLUDING ENSURING THAT EVERY INTERESTED HOUSEHOLD COMPLETES THE ANNUAL APPLICATION FOR ALBUQUERQUE HOUSING AUTHORITY. INCREASING INCOME CONTINUES TO BE AN AREA WHERE STAFF IS ACTIVELY SEEKING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND TOOLS TO ASSIST FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM MAINTAINS THAT ALTHOUGH SOME DISCHARGING FAMILIES DID NOT INCREASE THEIR INCOME, THEY WERE ABLE TO MOVE INTO PERMANENT LOW INCOME HOUSING AND OUR HOPE IS THAT THEY WILL UTILIZE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES PROVIDED TO THEM TO INCREASE THEIR INCOME WHILE RECEIVING LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SUPPORT WITH HOUSING. THE HOUSING PROGRAM CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON A HOUSING FIRST APPROACH AS WELL AS USE A TRAUMA- INFORMED AND STRENGTH-BASED APPROACH TO WORK WITH SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. HOUSING STAFF CONTINUES TO SEEK AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY TO GAIN ADDITIONAL TRAINING ON INCREASING INCOME, MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING, TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, BEST PRACTICES IN RAPID RE-HOUSING, AND AREAS OF TRAINING SPECIFIC TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE HOUSING PROGRAM MAINTAINS GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MULTIPLE HOUSING PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND CONTINUES TO WORK ON DEVELOPING NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH LANDLORDS WHO UNDERSTAND AND ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN A HOUSING FIRST APPROACH. S.A.F.E. HOUSE CONTINUES TO BE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM AND THAT THE SYSTEM IS UTILIZED TO RAPIDLY REHOUSE SURVIVORS THROUGH THE HOUSING PROGRAM. HOUSING PROGRAM STAFF CONTINUE TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO WORK WITH FAMILIES TO PROVIDE ON-GOING SUPPORT SERVICES DURING THE CURRENT PANDEMIC. STAFF MAKES CONCERTED EFFORTS TO KEEP PARTICIPANTS UPDATED ON THE STATUS OF OUR STATE'S HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AS NEEDED TO ASSIST FAMILIES WITH THE UNIQUE BARRIERS PRESENTED DURING THIS PANDEMIC. STAFF ASSISTED PARTICIPANTS WITH FOOD NEEDS DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME BY PROVIDING SUPPORT WITH GROCERIES AND WEEKLY FOOD DONATIONS. HOUSING STAFF RESPONDED PROMPTLY TO ISSUES RELATED TO ON-GOING EDUCATIONAL NEEDS FOR FAMILIES WHO WERE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY SCHOOL CLOSURES IN MARCH, INCLUDING SUPPORTING AND ADVOCATING FOR FAMILIES TO SECURE THE APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY NEEDED TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME. THE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON ENSURING THAT FAMILIES HAVE THE NECESSARY SUPPORT AND SERVICES AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO WORK AND PARTNER WITH A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS WITH EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, AND OTHER SERVICE NEEDS. S.A.F.E. HOUSE AND THE HOUSING PROGRAM CONTINUE TO HAVE A BASE OF DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS IN THE ALBUQUERQUE COMMUNITY THAT ARE WILLING TO ASSIST WITH GIFTS AND OTHER DONATIONS DURING THE HOLIDAYS, AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. DURING THE PANDEMIC, STAFF WORKED WITH A LOCAL RESTAURANT TO PROVIDE WEEKLY FOOD DONATIONS FOR FAMILIES IN HOUSING AND WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO SEWED MASKS FOR ALL ADULTS AND CHILDREN. THE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK PARTNERSHIPS WITH DONORS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND SERVICES AS THE NEEDS CONTINUE TO INCREASE DURING THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.

THRIFT STORE: THE STORE OPERATIONS ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON COMMUNITY DONATIONS, RECEIVING DONATED CLOTHING, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, AND FURNITURE. AS NEEDED, DONATED ITEMS ARE PROVIDED TO SHELTER RESIDENTS AND HOUSING PARTICIPANTS AT NO COST. ALL OTHER USABLE ITEMS ARE SOLD, AND THE PROCEEDS RAISED ARE USED TO SUPPORT THE ACTIVITIES OF S.A.F.E. HOUSE, INC. OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, AND THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, THERE HAS BEEN AN UPWARD TREND IN DONATIONS AND THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY. MANY RESIDENTS THAT WERE QUARANTINED AND SPENDING MORE TIME AT HOME, WERE CLEANING OUT CLOSETS AND GARAGES. BUT, LIKE OTHER RETAIL OUTLETS, S.A.F.E. HOUSE THRIFTIQUE SUFFERED MONETARY LOSSES WHEN THE STORE CLOSED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO RE-OPEN THE STORE, THE STORE HOURS WERE REDUCED TO SUPPORT A SAFE AND HEALTHY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE AND A SAFE AND HEALTHY WORKPLACE. EVEN WITH A SHARP REVENUE LOSS AT THE STORE, S.A.F.E. HOUSE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE KEEPING STORE EMPLOYEES WORKING BY REASSIGNING THEM TO OTHER DUTIES ON SHELTER, ENABLING THEM TO CONTINUE TO GET PAID DURING A TIME WHERE OTHERS WERE LOSING THEIR JOBS.

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Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (public 990 form dataset) from: https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202033469349300438_public.xml