Safe House Center - Additional SafeHouse Information

24/7 HelpLine: (734) 995-5444

Business Line: (734) 973-0242

BUILDING COMMUNITIES FREE OF

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT

Domestic Violence Services

Sexual Assault Services

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Additional SafeHouse Center Information

SafeHouse Center is a private, 501(c)3 non profit corporation. It was established in April of 1975 with the purpose of reducing the incidence and prevalence of domestic violence within southeastern Michigan. SafeHouse's shelter facility for battered women and their children opened its doors in March of 1978 in a renovated old home in rural southeastern Washtenaw County. In addition to providing safe shelter and crisis line services, SafeHouse Center has delivered direct supportive services to non-residential survivors of domestic violence since 1985.

In May 1987, SafeHouse also began providing in-person crisis response to survivors immediately after a domestic violence incident, through law enforcement paging of the On-Call Team. In 1992, Washtenaw County voters approved a millage that funded a new, publicly visible building for SafeHouse Center.

The new building was completed and the residents and offices moved in 1995. This building has a state-of-the-art security system. It currently houses all the non-residential programs and a 50-bed shelter with a children’s playroom. In October 2003, SafeHouse began providing sexual assault services to survivors of sexual assault who live and work in Washtenaw County.

Our Mission

The mission of SafeHouse Center is two-fold:

To provide safety, support, advocacy and resources for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and their children.
To work relentlessly to change the systems and attitudes that allow this abuse to continue.

Our Guiding Principles

SafeHouse Center is the center for providing leadership, support, and advocacy for this work in Washtenaw County.
We know that we cannot do this alone. We will provide the leadership to build effective community partnerships and drive the systems changes required to end assaults on women.
We are committed to the empowerment of all women and believe that all people should be valued without bias and should be treated with dignity and respect. This feminist philosophy guides our actions and service delivery. We believe in liberty and justice for all--no exceptions.
Sexual assault and domestic villence are never the fault of the survivor.
We will promote safety, justice and autonomy for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
We believe that the prevention of sexual assault and domestic violence must continue to move from the private sphere into the arena of public policy and community responsiblity.
We belive that every person is affected by oppression and that it is impossible to end violence against women and children without working toward the end of all forms of oppression.
We will not remain silent in the face of discrimination and oppression because complacency and silence perpetuate inequality and violence.
We are committed to operate with integrity and high ethical standards in all that we do.