Safe Haven facing space crunch

Shawano County’s domestic violence shelter, Safe Haven, has experienced its first-ever waiting lists, as victims come forward with increasingly complex problems needing more intensive assistance.

With many clients requiring shelter for 30 days or longer, the organization has been forced, as recently as this month, to put people on a waiting list if they face no immediate threat of violence.

“This problem is relatively new,” shelter executive director Stacey Cicero said. “We’ve just been busy all the time.”

Safe Haven staffers and supporters gathered inside the shelter Thursday for a vigil honoring past victims of domestic violence in recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Joining in solidarity during a moment of silence, participants in the event also were urged to remain supportive of victims whenever they step forward seeking assistance.

Sharon Woiak-Meisner, a survivor of domestic violence, told the crowd that the Shawano area needs better legal resources for victims, as well as greater sensitivity and development of transitional housing to help those emerging from shelters.

Recalling her own struggles, Woiak-Meisner said that arriving on the doorstep at Safe Haven was the start of a successful battle to regain control of her life.

“The best resource we have in this community,” she said, “is right here.”

Located at 380 Lakeland Road in Shawano, Safe Haven opened its doors in 2002 after operating for more than 10 years in various temporary locations.

The nonprofit organization gets federal and state funds to serve domestic violence and sexual assault victims through a 24-hour crisis line, outreach assistance and emergency shelter. The high-security shelter facility includes 22 beds for adults and children in five different rooms.

Nobody facing immediate threats of violence is ever turned away, even if it means doubling up in rooms with other victims and their families.

Starting last year and continuing this year, the shelter has periodically exceeded its capacity, requiring staff to place people on a waiting list if they have another safe place to stay. Under some circumstances, clients have been housed temporarily in hotels until space becomes available at the shelter.

Referrals also can be sent to emergency shelters in Green Bay or elsewhere, but those facilities frequently are filled to capacity, too.

The situation is complicated, Cicero said, by the fact that many Safe Haven clients not only are victims of violence or abuse, they also are battling such other issues as mental illness, addiction or financial troubles. That means those clients often need to spend more time at Safe Haven getting counseling and other assistance before they are ready to return to the community.

“It’s kind of a vicious circle,” Cicero said, adding that she hopes to adjust services and staffing in a way that prepares clients to leave the shelter sooner, reducing the need for waiting lists.

Expansion of the Safe Haven facility has not been discussed, but some say it could become an option in the future.

Jody Johnson, vice chairman of the group’s board of directors, said the Safe Haven staff has done a commendable job of meeting the community’s growing needs. One reason demand for services is so high, Johnson said, is that victims of domestic violence know help is available at Safe Haven.

Because it is impossible to predict future demand, Johnson added, nobody knows if the waiting list will continue and if expanding the shelter might become necessary.

“This is pretty new to us,” she said of the waiting list. “If it continues, we’re going to have to look at doing something.”