What is the length of shelter stay for Participants?
Up to 60 days
100
Shelter staff welcomes tours from community partners and off-site staff.
Yes! We tend to find that showing community partners our space and set up allows them to better understand our roles at shelter for providing safe space for Participants.
100
Do volunteers and interns get to answer hotline calls at shelter?
Yes! This tends to be one of the greater needs at shelter, is support with hotline calls - specifically during the day.
100
How often is a shelter staff member on-site and available to Participants?
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even on holidays!
200
Has the shelter always been "pet friendly", as in providing shelter to Participants and their pets that are not service animals?
No, but as of July 2016 we are officially pet friendly! We have partnered with the SWW Humane Society for training and supplies to get shelter ready for more pets.
200
Imminent danger, establishing IPV and that the caller has nowhere else to go.
What is the criteria we attempt to establish on our phone screen process?
200
False! We no longer require engagement or participation in groups or with advocates during someone's shelter stay. We certainly encourage it though!
Participation and engagement with staff is a requirement during someone's shelter stay.
200
If someone discloses needing shelter because they have none with lack of IPV or imminent danger are they accepted into shelter?
No. For those seeking housing services and are not experiencing current IPV, we refer out to Council for the Homeless and other housing resources.
200
What is the average length of shift at shelter?
Generally, shifts are broken up into 8 hour shifts. Day shift staff is here 7:30am-4pm, swing shift from 3:30pm-12am and overnight shift from 11:45am-7:45am
300
How did the SafeChoice shelter that we know today come to be/
Started as a group of women pooling money to create a safe place for women and children fleeing dangerous relationships?
300
Would a person experiencing abuse at the hands of their roommate is eligible for shelter services
False! Our shelter serves those fleeing from Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).
300
Shelter facilities are gender neutral.
True! We are an all inclusive shelter regardless of gender, race, creed, religion or sexual orientation.
300
Do shelter advocates provide advocacy for sexual assault over the DV/SA hotline?
No, we work with the SA program and contact the on-call advocate to get the caller connected with a knowledgeable (and wonderful!) advocate.
300
What does AO stand for? (Hint: it's sort of command central for shelter)
Advocacy Office
400
What did the shelter building used to be?
A hospital! [need more info]
400
Does shelter accept callers who are male identified and over the age of 18?
Yes! The SafeChoice shelter is one of the few DV shelters in the area who provide shelter space to male-identified callers.
400
The shelter location and address are confidential.
Absolutely! We try our best to maintain confidentiality by addressing concerns about confidentiality with Participants, monitoring online presence and information of the shelter and by not sharing our location until a PP coming in for an intake is on their way.
400
What are some of the responsibilities of staff at shelter?
Answering hotline calls, providing advocacy and other services to our Participants, monitoring cameras and building safety, occasionally accepting donations.
500
What is the name of the Shelter ghost?
Trick question: Depending on who you ask, one may or may not exist :)
500
Do we provide services for kids at shelter?
Yes! Mykaila and Catie are our fearless leaders of the CAP program (children's advocacy program).
500
All of the space at shelter is considered communal areas.
False! Each family or Participant (for singles) have their own bedroom space, but do share bathroom, kitchen, laundry and lounge areas.
500
What services do we provide over the hotline?
Generally most of the calls we get can be separated into two categories: emotional support, including safety planning and information & referral.
500
What services do we provide our participants?
Lots! But here are a few: advocacy, housing asstance and referrals to housing agencies in the area, creating a personal safety plan, working with families and kids to forge healthy relationships.