Southwest Safehouse and Durango Community Shelter providing a hand up, not a hand out
Those attending Chocolate Fantasia were on a festive sugar high; but surveying the successful fundraiser, Ali Sabeti, board president for Volunteers of America, noted, “As economic times get tougher, the need for our services increases.”
“At the Community Shelter and the Southwest Safehouse we really are supporting our friends and neighbors,” said Sabeti of the two unique facilities run by VOA.
“This building,” said VOA advisory committee member Lesley Gannon Meiering refereincing the Shelter, “and the Safehouse are part of our community. There are ups and downs in everybody’s lives… What beautiful places to be able to come and know that there is somebody who cares.”
Given the growing demand for services, the VOA has embarked on a $475,000 capital campaign to add much-needed space to the multi-purpose dining area at the Durango Community Shelter, and beds to the Southwest Safehouse.
“But this work began a long, long time ago,” said John Gamble, VOA of Southwest Colorado director. “This (VOA) was founded in 1896 in New York City… That same year in Denver the Volunteers of America began providing services for people in Colorado.”
The “West” was yet untamed, and settlers traveling to the new frontier weren’t always prepared for the new lifestyle. The men went to work in the mountains – logging and mining – leaving the women and children alone in Denver, often abandoned, according to Gamble. The VOA opened a shelter, and it remains the largest shelter of its type in Colorado, housing some 90 women and children each night.
In 1980, domestic violence became a “new topic” of discussion, no longer a dirty little secret to be kept in the closet, as it had been for so many years, explained Gamble.
“Society didn’t belong in family matters,” he said of the prevailing attitude. “But VOA had been dealing with domestic violence for years, even if not labeling it.”
A study was conducted in rural Colorado, revealing that Southwest Colorado had the highest incidence of domestic violence than anywhere in the state.
“I’ve been asked, ‘Is that true today?’ I’m not sure,” said Gamble, who has a master’s degree in social work and became the VOA director in Durango in 1985. “But I can assure you we have a terribly high incidence of domestic violence.”
Gamble was responsible for organizing the first safehouse, as well as hiring and training staff. The day the Southwest Safehouse opened in 1985, the phone calls began – victims of domestic violence seeking help.
“That first day, Linda and her two daughters moved in, and I’m sad to say, we’ve been busy ever since,” said Gamble, noting that the house averages 13 residents per night. “Last night we had 19 women and children whose own homes were not safe places to be.”
“I found strength and confidence in myself thanks to the many counselors at the Safehouse,” said Safehouse resident Nevada, who found sanctuary with her seven children, escaping more than six years of domestic violence. “When people who know me ask, ‘Are you ashamed you live at the Safehouse?’ I just smile and say, ‘No. I’m grateful,’ because now I’m not a victim. I’m a survivor.”
For safety’s sake, the location of the Safehouse remains confidential except to victims and select staff and counselors. Victims, or those seeking to assist a victim of abuse, are asked to call 259.5443 and speak with a counselor. Women must freely choose to come to the Southwest Safehouse for temporary or transitional housing and care.
“When I heard I was going to go to the Safehouse, I thought it was going to be cots on a floor,” said Nevada, whose 5-year-old was responsible for her learning about the Safehouse. “When I got there, I was just amazed… It’s a home environment, just like a family… It’s stability. It’s amazing. I had no idea what I was coming to. I was scared to death, but I knew I had to make that change for me and my kids. If I didn’t, who else would?”
The Safehouse’s sister facility, the Durango Community Shelter, is much more pubic and offers temporary housing to men, women and children, and is located on a hill overlooking Downtown Durango.
“The original building for the Shelter was an old house, donated and moved up here and plopped down on the hill,” said Sarada Leavenworth, Shelter program manager, pointing out that it has been expanded, added to over the years, including expanding the kitchen to allow for increased meal preparation. “We offer three meals a day. Breakfast and lunch is self-serve, and the evening meal is prepared by either volunteers or staff.”
In 2007 the Shelter enjoyed support of more than 350 volunteers, or some 2000 hours of volunteer time, according to Leavenworth.
“It’s very significant what that volunteer input does for our program,” she added.
In addition to housing, both the Safehouse and Shelter provide what is called “comprehensive” services, helping people get “traction,” as Gamble explained.
“Say you’re homeless, looking for work, and you show up to the job site with your backpack slung over your shoulder, and the foreman takes one look and says he’d rather have someone who has a home. Or, maybe you get the interview, and they say, here’s the application,” said Gamble, reminding that applications require addresses and phone numbers. “Ah… general delivery, Durango. They say, what’s your phone number…You probably don’t get the job. Traction issues.”
Everyone living at the Community Shelter has access to an unlisted phone number and post office box, in addition to a secure environment for belongings, laundry, showers and more.
For example, a semi-private area off the enclosed porch with a “resident’s” phone allows residents to attend to personal and family business, as well as set up job interviews. Task-oriented counseling and goal setting are also part of the services, as well as medical, legal and housing referrals.
The shelters are drug, alcohol and violence-free – no exceptions – and each resident must contribute to the “community environment.” Chores are required.
“We use the ‘tough love’ model,” said Gamble of the programs. “Everybody has to pitch in to the community environment and carry your own weight. It’s over-used these days, but we’ve been using it for years: (we offer) a hand up, not a hand-out.”
The Community Shelter averages 23 people per night, but often the numbers climb to 30 or 40. And Gamble assures that those who come to the shelter are not the “big city” stereotype.
“Forty percent of those people at the Community Shelter are women and children,” said Gamble. “We do not in this community have a traditional homeless population like you might see in Downtown Denver. We have people trying to make it with children, with families in this community, and then somebody gets sick…”
The Southwest Safehouse and Community Shelter are supported through events such as Chocolate Fantasia, held earlier this year at Fort Lewis College. Also, the Thrift Store, 639 E. Second Ave. in Durango, helps the bottom line – in addition to providing clothing – school clothes, warm coats, work boots, interview outfits – for those served at the Safehouse and Shelter.
Cash donations to the Volunteers of America, designated for any program, can be sent to PO Box 2107, Durango, Colo. 81302. Donations of $500 or greater may be eligible for Colorado Enterprise Zone tax benefits.
Volunteer opportunities include retail and office work at the Thrift Shop, grocery shopping and cooking at the Shelter, plus “handyman” efforts at all facilities. Help on the newsletter is also appreciated.
“We touch a lot of lives. I think we do a lot of good,” said Gamble. “Many years ago I set myself a goal: I want to close the doors of the Community Shelter and the Safehouse because we don’t need them any more. I have to tell you that’s not on my horizon, but it’s not a goal I’m going to let go of.”
For further information, contact the VOA at 970.259.1021.
