Support survivors escaping domestic violence

When you picture an emergency domestic violence shelter, what do you see? It seems like lots of people imagine an old house with crowded rooms, bunk beds, and lots of women. But our shelter at Raphael House couldn't be more different from that image:  it's a large, modern, colorful, light-filled space, and there are far more children here than there are adults!

More than 60% of the people who live at Raphael House are children. They live with their mothers in private, family rooms with en suite bathrooms. They share a large commercial kitchen and a variety of indoor and outdoor living room spaces. We offer all kinds of youth programming to keep kids happy, healthy, and growing every day, from field trips to the zoo to support groups, homework help, and yoga. 

During a recent youth support group, several kids were asked to share things that they like about themselves. One wrote "smart," another wrote "I like Raphael House," and a third drew pictures. But it was the fourth one that stopped us in our tracks:  

"That I'm alive and safe."

The child who wrote that is ten years old.

We're so grateful that that child - and all the other kids here - are alive and safe. And we're equally grateful for the profound reminder of the seriousness and importance of our work. This is why we come to Raphael House every day. This is why generous community members like you contribute to our work. And this is why we ask you to keep contributing, so we can make sure that someday, no ten year old will have to be grateful for life and safety.