Meeting agenda: "No Room in the Shelter Inn", February 13, 2001.

It is not easy for domestic violence survivors and their children to find a safe place to stay. In Kitsap County, one safe house does exist - however, there is "no room" in this five-bedroom, emergency shelter residence. The YWCA A.L.I.V.E. shelter is full and, typically, turns away women and children each month.

As reported in the Bremerton Sun last year, in August, 50 women were turned away from the YWCA shelter. In September, 70 women were turned away. In October, the number was 114, almost five times the usual monthly norm. When this happens, Y staffers then work long, hard hours to find alternative housing for those women and children turned away from our county's only emergency shelter for domestic violence survivors.

Why am I telling you this? Because... I believe that it doesn't have to be this way. Because... I believe the Kitsap County faith community can help, simply by educating ourselves about the need and then mobilizing our resources accordingly.

So, come and meet Martha Voorhees, A.L.I.V.E. shelter manager, and talk with her about this situation. Help us brainstorm ideas about alternative safe housing options and potential solutions! Together with the YWCA, we can make it easier for women and children to find a safe place to stay - and/or a temporary respite from a controlling or abusive partner at home.

Faith Community Action Group - February Meeting (note the change to our regular meeting time and location)

DATE: Tuesday, February 13
TIME: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
PLACE: YWCA Community Center, 905 Pacific Ave., Bremerton WA,
PHONE: (360) 479-0522

Information:

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE YWCA:

• It is a local leader in the domestic violence field who provides support, advocacy, referrals and shelter to families and individuals in crisis.
• The YWCA A.L.I.V.E. shelter can accommodate 17 persons.
• In 1999, the Y provided a safe haven for 101 women and 89 children and then assisted 60 percent of them in finding independent living accommodations.
• The Y's legal advocacy program assisted 1,242 domestic violence survivors - typically, women who do not leave their homes but want the violence at home to stop, or women who cannot be accommodated by the shelter but have found a safe place to stay elsewhere.
• In 2000, the Y sheltered 82 women and 98 children while providing 1,184 women (having a combined total of 902 children) with legal advocacy.
• While the Y served less women at the shelter in 2000, the women are staying longer at the shelter (typically 4-6 weeks and, sometimes, up to 8 weeks).

Minutes:

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

• 1st Baptist Church in Port Orchard for dedicating its Dec 3rd evening worship service to domestic violence. Pastors Jamie Greening and Steve Gibson joined together with Kitsap County Probation Officer, Marcy Kittleson, and Dianne Juhl to prepare and present the program. "What every congregation needs to know about domestic violence" brochures were made available to all worship attendees.
• Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap for dedicating its January 28th service to domestic violence.
• Tracy Dickerson, Worship Associate, and Rev. Dr. Sandra Bochonok devoted the worship liturgy, hymns, and sermon to domestic violence.
• Trained DV counselors were in attendance.
• "What every congregation needs to know about domestic violence" and YWCA A.L.I.V.E. brochures were made available to all worship attendees.
• Sandra's sermon will be posted to the Kitsap County D.V. Task Force's website soon.
• Please free to contact Sandra Bochonok if your faith community needs a guest pastor or pulpit supply.

  Dianne Juhl
  Faith Community Action Group, Chair
  Kitsap Country Domestic Violence Task Force
  diannej@bainbridgeisland.net
  office: (206) 842-6362
  fax: (206) 842-8197
  home: (206) 842-0893
  5232 Crystal Springs Dr. NE
  Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

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