Since 1984, a dedicated group of volunteers have provided help to victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, tragic circumstances, and more through the Safehouse, Inc. nonprofit organization in Meeker.
MEEKER | Mainstream awareness of domestic violence came to the forefront in the U.S. with the release of a controversial made-for-television movie, “The Burning Bed,” starring Farrah Fawcett, in 1984. Coincidentally, that same year, a dedicated group of Meeker residents started Safehouse, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting victims of crimes covered by the Victim Rights Act.
Safehouse Inc.’s mission is “to support and aid victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, violent crime and tragic circumstance, with compassion, dignity and respect and provide them with the assistance and services necessary to speed their recovery while coordinating with other community agencies to ensure continue of support for victims. Safehouse, Inc. also provides domestic violence, sexual abuse and violent crime education and prevention awareness to the community it serves.”
In addition to providing services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes covered by the Victim Rights Act, Safehouse has also provided services to others in need. As just two examples of many during the last four decades, Safehouse, Inc. volunteers stepped in to assist a visiting family whose four-month-old baby died while the family was camping near Trappers Lake in 2017. The family, traveling with multiple children, needed to wait for the autopsy results. Safehouse volunteers stepped in with places to stay and meals. In another instance, the family of a missing hunter flew in to await the outcome of a search and rescue operation. Safehouse volunteers again provided housing and help. Years later, some of those family members are still in contact with the volunteers who came to their aid in a time of crisis.
Since 2015, Safehouse, Inc. has worked with an average of 36 people a year. The numbers tend to be higher around the holidays, and during “boom” seasons where there are a lot of short-term workers moving through the area.
Safehouse volunteers are generally contacted through law enforcement agencies via dispatch in situations where they may be of assistance. Besides finding short-term housing and immediate, emergency needs for victims, volunteers might act as advocates for victims of sexual assault during exams to collect evidence or sit with a victim in court as they face their abuser, or just be present as a support in cases of violent death or suicide. Safehouse, Inc., volunteers also work with victims on safety plans and supplies if they need to leave an abusive situation.
Volunteers are prepared for the situations they may encounter by taking online training through VAT Online (Victim Assistance Training) or through the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) training.
As a 501(c)3 non-profit, the organization is dependent on grants and donations for funding. It receives funding from the 9th Judicial Victim Assistance and Law Enforcement (VALE) organization, other grants and donations, and in-kind donations of time and services. Like most volunteer organizations, recruiting and retaining qualified volunteers can also prove difficult.
