A Safe Place is a non-profit organization established in 1976 that provides crisis intervention, support services, education, and advocacy to survivors of domestic violence in communities in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. It operates shelters in Portsmouth, Rochester, and Salem that provide confidential emergency housing and support groups for victims. A Safe Place also offers court advocacy, assistance with safety planning, and educational workshops and presentations. Its goal is to help break the cycle of domestic abuse.

2. The mission of A Safe Place is to break the cycle of domestic abuse by providing crisis intervention, support services, education and advocacy to survivors, their families and the community while maintaining . . . “AN OPEN DOOR TO SAFETY” FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE”

4. Domestic abuse is illegal and some examples include:

5. if someone injures you;

6. threatens you/fear for your safety;

7. forces/pressures you into sexual acts;

8. destroys/ threatens to destroy your property; or

9. enters your home against your wishes (if not residing together).

11. Emotional Abuse: includes threats, isolation, manipulation, insults, destruction of property, public humiliation, and accusations of affairs, threats of suicide, self injury, or homicide if you leave.

12. Financial Abuse: includes all aspects in connection with any and all income related matters.

13. Physical Abuse: includes any forceful behavior such as hitting, chocking, slapping, using weapons, driving recklessly, holding you down, and preventing you from leaving.

15. “IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW SUSPECTS BEING A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, A SAFE PLACEWOULD BE A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR ASSISTANCE!!!!” THE BROCHURE IS VERY DETAILED. YOU CAN DIRECTLY OBTAIN A COPY OF SAME TO FULLY APPRECIATE THE COMPLEX NATURE OF ABUSE BY VISITING THEIR WEBSITE.

16. First established in 1976 to serve as a domestic violence shelter for victims with the additional goal of prevention and elimination of same. They are a non-profit organization that provides free shelter and support services for those who need them. It’s inception dates back to in or around the time of the “second wave feminist movement” and the introduction of the first abuse hotline established in 1971. The first actual “shelter” was opened in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1975--so A Safe Place is among one of the beginning pioneers in terms of its development. They primarily support communities in the Rockingham County area with locations in Portsmouth (2), Rochester and Salem. All services are free and confidential.

18. The first shelter was a rented a four bedroom house on Islington Street in Portsmouth, N.H. which housed 181 women and 253 children in its’ first 18 months of operation. Thereafter they purchased a permanent residence, the location of which remains confidential.

20. Because of their “open door policy”, they prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender, age, health status (including HIV-positive) physical, mental/emotional ability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, socioeconomic status, race, national origin, immigration status, religious and political affiliation.

24. They provide crucial assistance by working with the victims individually to create a safety plan in connection with their abusive situation. The safety plan is designed to encompass a variety of situations--whether the individual is directly involved in an abusive relationship, leaving the relationship, after the relationship is terminated, or with regard to the overall emotional well being of the victim.

28. ALL FREE OF CHARGE!

31. Numerous additional volunteers and interns --to help break the cycle of domestic violence. Accordingly, in order for the organization to maintain providing the unreimbursed services they do, it is necessary to fund the organization’s efforts through various avenues (in terms of both monetary sources as well volunteering efforts). In this regard . . .

32. SPONSORS

33. WISH LIST

34. RECYCLED CELL PHONES A Safe Place encourages members of the community to donate their old cell phones by either dropping them off at the shelter or an organization known as Shelter Alliance. Shelter Alliance recycles the old cell phones and equips them with the capacity to directly access local 911 services. They then provide these phones to domestic violence shelters who in turn provide same directly to the victims for emergency situations.

35. Volunteers are required to commit to 30 hours of interactive training (training sessions held twice a year) and to engage in 16 hours of supervised “on-the-job” training before being placed into a volunteer position. They assist by providing services and related advocacy through phone contact, support in the court system, and at social service agencies.

36. Not only does A Safe Place provide services to human victims of domestic abuse, they also provide services and advocate on behalf of our four legged friends . . . . . . in accordance with guidelines set forth by the National Humane Society.

37. PET ABUSE AND ITS CONNECTION WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE

38. Pet Abuse & Domestic Abuse:

41. buying new locks to fix broken ones;

42. providing clothes and supplies for work and school, gas and food cards, toiletries and sometimes furniture (as resources allow);

43. assistance in finding permanent housing;

44. making additional human service referrals; and

45. in some instances, by providing plane tickets to other states or countries for an individual’s safety (as resources allow).