Harbor House offers more than emergency shelter

The name tells only part of the story. Harbor House Domestic Violence Shelter does so much more than shelter survivors and their families escaping domestic violence. The Catholic Charities ministry helps thousands of survivors who do not even step foot in the shelter, instead receiving services in the community or through a 24/7 hotline.

For Keri McGregor, program director, and her team, there are four corners to Harbor House.

“Emergency shelter is absolutely one of those four corners and is what many people think of when they think of Harbor House,” McGregor said. “Equally important to those we serve – the other three corners of our house, if you will — are hotline services, such as safety planning and referrals to community resources; outreach for court services, financial literacy, and assistance with employment and housing; and collaboration with community partners in law enforcement and the district attorney’s office, and volunteers.”

One program available throughout the 25 counties of the Diocese of Wichita is the SAFE Project.

In partnership with the Kansas Department of Children and Families, SAFE Project helps low income survivors who have at least one minor child. The goal of the program is to help improve the safety and employability of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors.

Case managers work with clients to develop a safety plan, advocate for their medical and mental health needs, provide financial literacy education, and identify and remove barriers to employment. Additionally, clients have access to education on healthy relationships, responsible parenting and conflict resolution.

In the past year, more than 550 survivors were helped through the SAFE Project.

While attention is focused on domestic violence during an awareness month in October, McGregor reminds us that domestic violence and sexual assault happen every day in our community. That is the reason why Harbor House has offered round-the-clock access to emergency shelter and advocacy services for the past 26 years.