Contributed by: Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®
The Center’s Hero Campaign aims to spotlight local nonprofits amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Our goal is to raise awareness and support the community. This is our 4th post in the Q+A series featuring HAVEN.
What is your nonprofit?
HAVEN is the only agency in Oakland County that provides comprehensive services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Our mission is to empower survivors, spread awareness, and prevent violence. We provide services through an innovative model that fully integrates our residential, counseling, advocacy, and educational programs under one roof. Each year, HAVEN serves about 30,000 people through a wide range of empowerment-based programs and services.
Who do you serve?
HAVEN provides free services to survivors and their children. Although HAVEN is located within Oakland County, our services are available to survivors no matter their current residency. Approximately 35% of our residents come from Detroit.
How have the communities you serve been impacted by COVID-19?
COVID-19 has greatly increased the lethality for many survivors. Due to the Stay Home, Stay Safe order, many survivors have been forced to quarantine with their abusers. We haven’t experienced a decrease in calls, which signifies that the survivors in our community are still in need of the critical and necessary services that we provide.
How has your nonprofit been impacted by COVID-19?
Like most organizations, HAVEN has been impacted, but the dedication of our staff and the outpouring community support has been beneficial. The majority of our staff is working remotely. Some are still meeting with clients in-person while following social distancing guidelines. We’ve transitioned many of our programs to telehealth, via phone or video conference.
What can people and businesses do to support your organization and nonprofits generally during this unique environment?
During this time community supporters can donate monetarily directly on our website. Critical need items are needed as well, such as cleaning products, masks, sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer, Kleenex or items from our General Wish-List.
Read more blogs in this series:
