New shelter update: Walls almost up

The workers are just about ready for the walls to go up at the new shelter!

This is the residential building — those PVC pipes here are for the building’s plumbing. Radiant floor heating will be installed next week.

Architectural rendering of the other building on site, which will house the community resource center, and offices. Courtesy MASS Design Group.

A few points about the new shelter.

• All of Haven’s support groups, counseling, leadership programs, and prevention education will be held in the new shelter.

• The new shelter will nearly quadruple our capacity.

• With increased security, the shelter location no longer needs to remain confidential. A safer, more visible shelter will help other survivors understand that our community stands with survivors, and decrease the isolation survivors often experience when they stay in a shelter.

• Up to 65 percent of survivors with pets delayed leaving an abusive relationship for fear of what would happen to their pet. Survivors staying at the new shelter will be more than welcome to bring their pets along. Pets are a part of the family, especially in our community.

Together, we can break the cycle and end the secrecy, isolation, and stigma that has long been associated with domestic and sexual violence. Thank you for standing with survivors and for supporting our work!