Home Shouldn't Hurt

By Kristen Bair/Rise Above Violence
​
“Home is where the heart is,” they say.

“There’s no place like home,” says Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz.”

When you think of home, what do you imagine? Most of us picture a warm, safe place, filled with people who care for us. But for victims of domestic violence, “home” doesn’t bring comfort. It brings fear. Because sometimes, home hurts — and it shouldn’t.

For 1 in 4 families who experience domestic violence, home becomes a place of pain and danger. It’s no wonder domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness for women and their children (AllAgainstAbuse.org). Imagine facing an impossible choice: stay and endure abuse or leave and face homelessness.

I believe people want to help, they just don’t always know how. Transitional housing is one answer.

A word from a SafeHome provider
“We’ve hosted Rise Above Violence for about three years now. It has allowed us to experience a new kind of community — sharing an open and unused space with someone during a deeply vulnerable moment. We feel grateful to offer a place of peace and privacy that we weren’t even using, and to witness healing unfold in that space? Incredible. 

“Rise makes it easy. They respond quickly, support both client and host, and ensure everything runs smoothly. Follow-up is consistent. Communication is open. And at the end of each stay, Rise checks in and wraps up the process with care.

“Very little is required of us beyond providing a safe and private space where someone can rest, recover, and begin again.”

What transitional housing actually does.
Transitional housing isn’t permanent. It’s temporary (up to 21 days), safe housing that gives survivors the time and space they need to get back on their feet.

It’s not a shelter. But it is a bridge from crisis to stability — and a chance at a new beginning. 
On average, transitional housing reduces the risk of returning to an abuser by more than 50 percent, according to TCDV. It allows survivors to find work, enroll kids in school, connect with services and, most importantly, breathe.

 It doesn’t just change lives. It saves them. At Rise Above Violence, we don’t just help survivors find safe shelter, we walk alongside them through their journey. We connect clients to long-term resources, financial support and housing to help them rebuild so that one day, they no longer need us, but they always know we’re here if they do. 

A word from a survivor
“I’m a domestic abuse survivor. Today, my children and I are safe, thriving, and finally happy.

“I tried for years to escape my situation. I just wanted a better life for my kids. If Rise hadn’t found us transitional housing, I don’t believe we’d be living the life we have now.

“So many women want to leave. They want safety. They want peace for their children. But they have no family. No support. No place to go. 

“Transitional housing gives women like me a fighting chance. And it gives our children the future we dreamed of.”

How can you help?
We’re looking for:
- Unlived spaces.
- Basement studios.
- Mother-in-law suites.
- Campers.
​- Short-term rentals.

If you have one of these, you have the power to change a life.

If you have a short-term rental, our SafeHome Program makes it simple. All we ask is the space — we handle the rest. Incentives include a cleaning stipend, utility reimbursement and a discount of up to 50 percent off short-term rental fees for Archuleta County-zoned homes.

For more information on our SafeHome Program,  email [email protected] or call Kristen at (970) 264-1129, ext. 7. She is our housing advocate and more than happy to talk about the program.