Letter from the Executive Director: DC SAFE Breaks Ground on New Crisis Shelter for Domestic Violence
Dear DC SAFE Community,
After nearly five years of pre-development planning, several delays, and tireless effort to build community support, I am so happy to share that we were finally able to break ground on the new facility for our SAFE Space Crisis Shelter. As you may know, SAFE Space is the only shelter in the district that can make 24/7 immediate placements for survivors and families within an hour of a domestic violence incident. With 30 apartment-style units, the new facility will double current capacity!
SAFE Space is the “land of yes” as our Shelter Director, Michelle Sewell likes to say. Over the past year, Michelle and her team extended shelter stays again and again, and had to place more survivors in hotels than ever before.
As we saw around the country, domestic violence increased in both frequency and severity amidst the pandemic. Alarmingly, there were 16 domestic violence related homicides here in the District, which is the most our city has seen in a single year for over a decade. Expanding SAFE Space is especially vital for survivors at high-risk for re-assault or homicide.
We were honored that more than fifty people joined us to celebrate the moment at our official Groundbreaking Ceremony on June 8th, including DC SAFE staff and board members, project team members, lenders, partners, and community members. Guest speakers included DC Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6), who was instrumental in securing city funding to support the project; DC Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (Ward 5), who represents Ward 5, where the new facility is located; Michelle Garcia, Director of DC’s Office of Victim Services and Justice Grant; and D. Yvonne Rivers, a former DC SAFE client and survivor activist.
Getting to this point was a labor of love, and as Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) said at the event, "When you see everyone come together and recognize such an important need—it's a really great day." When construction is complete in mid-2022, we envision a community-owned building that emblematizes public trust, inclusivity, and self-empowerment. I hope you'll join us to help build SAFE Space!
Sincerely,
Natalia Otero, Co-founder and Executive Director
P.S.—There is still plenty of work to be done! If you’re interested in helping us build SAFE Space, you can launch your own peer-to-peer campaign! Peer-to-peer is a fundraising approach where supporters spread awareness and raise money through their own personal fundraising pages. Visit https://www.dcsafe.org/get-involved-1 to find everything you need to get started!