Safe Housing United States Project #56568

Housing for Victims of Sexual Assault/Trafficking

by Fair Haven, Inc

Project Report | Feb 10, 2026
Program Vision and Community Need

By Shana Robertson | Community Impact Director

2025 Milestone

2025 Milestone: Grant Award

The Portside Suites campaign continues to move forward as a critical response to the long-standing need for safe, stable, and longer-term housing for survivors throughout Northwest Indiana. Previous reports, detail the building campaign, Portside Suites project, had already secured the AARP grant for 1 million to build the residential building. That was a big step but it was critical to find funding for the program itself.

Fair Haven RCC hit this milestone in October 2025 and was granted a federal grant through the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). This award became the official launch for this impactful wrap-around services. This funding enabled:

Staffing; hiring Tamika Jones as Director of Transitional Housing
Initial program development and planning
Drafting of Procedures & Protocols
Preparation for residential service delivery

While progress is steady, the campaign is currently facing a key barrier: financing the requirements made for additional infrastructure to accommodate residential living units in the downtown area of Highland, Indiana- which is the current planned site location. These infrastructure upgrades are essential for compliance and occupancy but represent an unplanned financial hurdle.

Overcoming this barrier will allow construction and residential services to begin sooner—bringing safety, autonomy, and stability to survivors who urgently need housing. Community donations and partner support are essential to bridge this gap and accelerate the opening of Portside Suites.

According to Tamika Jones, Director of Transitional Housing, Portside Suites represents a long-held vision shaped directly by survivor voices.

“Portside Suites has been a dream for many of us here for quite some time now. Walking alongside survivors often gives us important information about the barriers they face on the road to rebuilding their lives after such life-changing events. Safe and longer-term housing is something that survivors have voiced as being a need for a long time.”

— Tamika Jones

Survivors often leave abusive or unsafe environments with limited financial resources, few housing options, and significant barriers to independence. Portside Suites is designed to address these challenges by providing stable housing alongside supportive services that promote autonomy, empowerment, and long-term success.

Current Status and Next Steps

At present, the program is advancing through critical approval and preparation phases. Tamika is currently awaiting confirmation from the grant funder regarding approval of proposed Procedures & Protocols, including:

Eligibility criteria for housing
Service standards and program clearance
Outcome tracking to measure success
Opportunities for resident autonomy and empowerment

Simultaneously, the campaign is working to address additional infrastructure requirements required by the Town of Highland to support residential living units in the downtown area.

Why Timing Matters: A Real-Time Example

The urgency of opening Portside Suites is underscored by current client needs. When asked whether there have been recent situations where a client could have benefited from Portside Suites being available, Tamika shared the following:

“Yes. I am currently working with a survivor who has the desire for their life’s circumstances to be different. We have spoken about the goals they would like to achieve, and they have a very solid plan for reaching those goals. The only issue is having access to safe and stable housing. The survivor is living within an abusive household currently and the current cost of things does not allow them to relocate immediately. If Portside Suites were available right now, they could begin their journey towards autonomy, safety, and stability.”

This story reflects a reality faced by many survivors: readiness and motivation are present, but housing access is the missing link.

Call to Action: Help Open Portside Suites Sooner

To move Portside Suites from preparation to occupancy, additional resources are urgently needed to overcome infrastructure barriers required by the town. Community investment will directly support:

Required infrastructure improvements
Faster readiness for residential occupancy
Earlier access to safe, stable housing for survivors

Your donation can help open doors sooner. By contributing to the Portside Suites campaign, donors become partners in creating safety, dignity, and opportunity for survivors who are ready to rebuild their lives.

Together, we can transform momentum into move-in day—and ensure that when survivors are ready for change, housing is ready for them.

Sea of Support Plan

Tamika Jones Transitional Housing Director

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