Housing for Victims of Sexual Assault/Trafficking

Nearly two years ago, we invited you to believe with us in a vision: creating safe, private transitional housing where survivors could have the time and space they need to heal, stabilize and rebuild their lives.

Today, we are thrilled to tell you—we have the keys!

On August 18, Fair Haven officially acquired the future home of Portside Suites, a seven-unit residential property that will become transitional housing for survivors of sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, dating violence and other violent crimes.

This milestone did not come without challenges.

Our original vision was to construct five private apartments adjacent to Fair Haven's Rape Crisis Center. As the project moved forward, escalating construction costs, infrastructure requirements and project delays caused the anticipated cost of construction to grow significantly. We knew we had to find another way.

So, we changed course but, we never changed the mission.

With the support of our funding partners, Fair Haven identified an existing seven-unit residential property that could accomplish even more than we originally envisioned. Purchasing an existing building allows us to expand Portside Suites from five planned apartments to seven, while moving survivors into safe transitional housing sooner than new construction would have allowed.

Now, a new chapter begins.

Over the coming months, Fair Haven will transition and prepare the apartments to become welcoming, survivor-centered spaces. Portside Suites will provide more than a roof. Residents will have access to advocacy, case management, counseling, financial assistance and other supportive services as they work toward permanent housing, financial stability and long-term independence.

And you are part of this story.

Whether you gave when Portside Suites was only an idea on paper or supported us somewhere along the journey, your generosity helped us keep moving forward—even when the path changed.

There is still work ahead. The building needs a few renovations and definately some maintenance! Apartments will need furnishings and household essentials. There will be utilities, insurance, food and ongoing program costs. But today, we are celebrating something extraordinary:

Portside Suites is no longer a rendering or a plan. It has an address.

Seven doors will soon represent seven opportunities for survivors to find safety, stability, healing and possibility. 

Hope has an address. Healing has space. Stability starts here.

Thank you for helping us Sea It Through!