Sojourner Center

Target demographics: Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Human Trafficking

Direct beneficiaries per year: 1,000+ survivors, children, and their pets

Geographic areas served: Phoenix, Arizona

Programs: Residential services: sojourner centers crisis shelters provide a safe and confidential living environment, staffed 24 hours per day, 365 days per year for women and children who are fleeing a domestic violence situation. Provisions of shelter, food and clothing are provided upon arrival at the shelter. Case managers support the women and families in their progress towards independent social and economic stability through a variety of services including education classes, support groups, safety planning, licensed onsite childcare and healthcare, lay legal advocacy services, life skills development and workforce readiness. In fy14, we provided 78,932 nights of shelter.

child development center: the center addresses the short and long term effects of a childs emotional, social and cognitive development who has witnessed domestic violence. Families have access to onsite licensed childcare and pediatric medical care, safety planning, developmental assessments, school-aged appropriate programming, and social support groups. Activities are focused on learning through play, teamwork, social development and cultural-sensitivity. Moms participate in family safety planning, non-violent discipline and parenting classes. In fy14, 176 children were served in the center.

supportive living: the transitional housing and supportive services program helps women gain the skills and resources necessary for obtaining and sustaining permanent housing and for living independently as individuals and/or as families. Residents work with their assigned case manager to develop a goal plan set into a timeframe for accomplishment and to achieve success. The plan is reviewed weekly, emphasizing appropriate goals for increasing income and the necessary life skills support that will assist them in obtaining permanent housing. Services provided to the residents include workforce readiness, financial literacy, employment counseling, lay legal advocacy, referrals to and assistance in accessing community resources, access to an onsite medical clinic, weekly support groups and social activities. For women with children, we provide onsite licensed childcare, developmental assessments, school-aged appropriate programming, social support groups and parenting classes. In fy14, 257 women and children were provided transitional housing.

lay legal: the lay legal advocacy program helps domestic violence victims attain safety and justice by assisting them in accessing the legal resources available to them. In fy14, two lay legal advocates served 1144 individuals. Advocates assist victims with securing orders of protection and "exclusive use of the home so the women and children wont be homeless, support with landlord-tenant issues (breaking a lease or avoiding eviction), legal separation or divorce, child support, custody and visitation, and modification of decrees as well as accessing other social services such as shelter, food, clothing, healthcare, and childcare.