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I am excited to be a part of what lies ahead for the future of Safe Homes as we journey "Onward--Upward" to a reachable goal. The data listed below shows the incredible need for us to expand our current shelter space. The number of women and children that we must turn away or deny shelter due to available bed space often means placing victims in hotels for brief periods or placing them in another shelter that may not be as secure as Safe Homes. They may also be given the option to be transported to another Domestic Violence Shelter outside of Augusta but if they are employed, have children in school, have no personal transportation, etc., they may not want to leave the area to go to Atlanta, Savannah, Statesboro, or even Aiken, SC. The very thought that women and children who are unable to access safe shelter may choose -or think that their only option is to stay with the abuse or try to ride it out in hopes it will get better. This is unacceptable, because it doesn't get better, and the risk is far too great for the victims.
How traumatic it must be to travel to Augusta from one of the 10 county areas that we serve only to be told that we have no room at the shelter for you and your children. Turning away a single person or child back into harm's way--back to the abuse- is not an option and is the real reason that we must build our new shelter soon.
DHR Family Violence statistics for the Augusta shelter for the past 3 years shows a 50% increase in crisis calls with no increase in shelter space.
2003 Crisis Calls 1047
Sheltered Women/Children
140 /167
Turned away 83/94
Total Served 1745
Turned away 58%
2004 Crisis Calls 1215
Sheltered Women/Children 317/160
Turned away 129/75
Total Served 1574
Turned away 43%
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