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24/7 HelpLine: 734-995-5444 If you are in immediate danger, call 911. |
Linea de Apoyo de 24 horas: 734-995-5444 Si esta en grave peligro, llame a 911. |
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24/7 HelpLine: 734-995-5444 If you are in immediate danger, call 911. |
Linea de Apoyo de 24 horas: 734-995-5444 Si esta en grave peligro, llame a 911. |
Dear Friend,
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and this year’s national theme, “Together We Act, United We Change,” is a powerful reminder that preventing and responding to sexual violence takes all of us.
Throughout April, SafeHouse Center is hosting several community events to honor SAAM and we invite you to join us in learning, listening, and showing up. A full list of events can be viewed here.
We are also grateful for how here in Washtenaw County, the spirit of unity and action is alive and real. We see it displayed every day through the great work of community service providers & partners, and supporters like you, who remind us that in our community survivors are seen, heard, and believed.
That spirit was also in full display at our Fresh Start Breakfast which took place on April 10. With nearly 180 people in attendance, it was a humbling demonstration of what’s possible when a community shows up. Thank you to everyone who joined us; your presence fuels our work, and your partnership strengthens our impact.
You may also be wondering how SafeHouse Center is being impacted by current funding uncertainties and shifts in policy priorities. Our current fiscal year budget is made up of 54% federal funding and 17% local government funding. As such we are monitoring with great concern current events, and as we navigate and respond in kind, please know that we will continue to do our best to ensure survivors have a safe space to receive assistance and resources. However, I also want to be clear that less funding does not mean less violence! Every 68 seconds a person in the US is sexually assaulted; it happens here and survivors deserve to find support and healing.
So thank you for standing with us because collective action is the only path forward, and right now, your support matters more than ever.
With gratitude,
Christine
P.S If you would like to learn more about SAAM, please click here:
https://www.nsvrc.org/saam
Upcoming Events:
SafeHouse Center will be at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market on April 26 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in honor of SAAM. We invite you to join us from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for “Ringing of the Bells.” SafeHouse Center will ring the Kerrytown chime every 68 seconds to represent that every 68 seconds someone is sexually assaulted in the US .
Clothesline project & Denim Day Displays will be available to view at all month long at the WCC & Pittsfield Administration Building.
Clothesline project & Denim Day Displays will be available to view at the following agencies.
The Clothesline Project was created in the 90s to help provide awareness, healing and break the silence.
https://www.theclotheslineproject.org/
Denim Day was started in the 1990s after a court ruling in Italy overturned a rape conviction; since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped the person and thereby implied consent. Protests started to show solidarity with the victim.
All Month Long: WCC & Pittsfield Administration Building
March 31 – April 4 Neutral Zone
April 14-18 22nd District Court
In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, SafeHouse Center volunteers are
“Ribboning up the town”. Find our teal ribbon and message on college campuses, downtown
Ann Arbor and downtown Ypsilanti. (Picture attached)
Volunteer at SafeHouse Center: Empowering Communities and Supporting Survivors
SafeHouse Center is dedicated to offering critical services to survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence. A key part of our mission involves engaging with the community through volunteer opportunities, education, and internships. Below are some of our upcoming programs and initiatives that you can join.
Volunteer Program:
2025 SafeHouse Center CORE Training
Spring Training- 5/15-5/18/2025
Fall Training- 9/18-9/21/2025
https://www.safehousecenter.org/volunteer-information-2-2
SafeHouse Center is currently accepting applications for our HYBRID Spring 2025 CORE training. Applications are due by April 18. Anyone interested in volunteering must complete training.
Join us at our next Volunteer Information Session! We host monthly information sessions every first Monday at 10 am or 6 pm. You can register for the best date at https://www.safehousecenter.org/volunteer-info-sessions/.
We have two volunteer umbrellas that community members can apply for: Direct Services and Non-Direct Services. Please review the volunteer descriptions and expectations to find the one that is right for you.
To apply for the direct service volunteer program, click on this link
To apply for the non-direct service volunteer program, click on this link
If you need a different training date or program, please join our September 2025 waitlist.
On 2/25/25, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services providers from all over the state convened at our state capital to meet with elected state officials to discuss the FY26 appropriations request to preserve and improve DV/SA service funding. Organized by the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence (MCEDSV), of which SafeHouse Center is a member, the goal of the day was to ensure that our state legislators understand the devastating impact of impending cuts to VOCA funding. Many Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (DV/SA) agencies across Michigan rely on federal and state funding to serve survivors in their communities in navigating the aftermath of extraordinary trauma. However, federal and state funding has not kept up with increasing demand for supports, pushing providers beyond their staff and financial limits. This leaves many survivors without assistance. $75 million of funding is critical for victim service organizations like ours to continue providing life changing services.
Thank you to all Washtenaw County state representatives who welcomed us into their spaces and listened with intent and purpose to the call for the action.
If you would like to get involved call your legislator today! Find your legislator here:
https://www.house.mi.gov/
https://senate.michigan.gov/findyoursenator/
Volunteer Spotlight: Teen Voice Program
Miraya Latchamsetty, Mikayla Eccleston, Elsa Pasquariello, Kyra Kahana (Left to Right Picture attached)
“Hi, my name is Miraya Latchamsetty, and I’m a Junior at Greenhills School, and I have been a part of the Teen Voice Program for 2 years. Over this time period, I have learned a lot about relationships and how to spot toxic/unhealthy behaviors. One of my favorite experiences with SHC was our concert event that was hosted at The Neutral Zone. This was a fun and engaging event that, I believe, was impactful.”
“My name is Mikayla Eccleston, and I am a senior at GreenHills School. Over the past three years in this amazing group, I have gained invaluable insight into the inner workings of a domestic violence shelter and the importance of raising awareness about sexual assault in the community. Last year, the event I thought was most impactful was our art slam. Through this event, we were able to have insightful conversations with youth in the community.”
Elsa Pasquariello, Senior Huron High School Teen Voice Member for 3 years
Q: How was volunteering with Teen Voice impactful for you?
“Being in a position where I had to teach the information to others, allowed me to better engage with the content and take it to heart.”
Kyra Kahana, Senior Community High School Teen Voice Member for 3 years
Q: What did you learn from your time in Teen Voice that you will carry into your future pursuits?
“The things I learned through being in Teen Voice will definitely follow me in my own relationships. It also introduced me to a whole new community of groups and organizations that are doing amazing advocacy work all around me.”
Congratulations to Mikayla, Elsa, and Kyra on their graduation. We wish you all the best!
Thank you for the years of dedicated teen volunteer work and your active participation in the Teen Voice Program at SafeHouse Center.
Teen Voice Program:
Our Teen Voice program and its members have been a strong voice for educating on and raising awareness about healthy dating relationships for many years. We are proud of what they have been able to achieve and are so grateful for their participation, energy, and advocacy on behalf of survivors and the agency. However, due to on-going budget constraints, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue this program at the end of the current school year. This means that we will no longer offer Teen Voice Program presentations to students in area schools after that time. That said, our main Community Education Program remains fully operational and available, and we encourage you to contact us if you are interested in having us come out and present. For more information about our presentations, please visit our website at www.safehousecenter.org.
Internship Program:
Congratulations to our interns, Natalie, Ruth, Kathyrn, and Evelina, on completing their internship serving survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence from September 2024 to April 2025!
We appreciate your hard work and dedication and wish you luck in the future!
We are currently accepting interns for the spring and fall/winter semesters.
Join our team! Check out our website to see what opportunities we have available!
Thank you to our donors and volunteers for your continued support! Your contributions allow us to continue to offer free and confidential services to survivors.
A special thank you to all who sponsored and/or attended out Fresh Start Breakfast.
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. We’d love to hear your thoughts! Help us make our newsletter even better by sharing your feedback and thoughts here.
24/7 Helpline
(734) 995-5444
