Shelter

Peace House provides a safe haven for women and their children when they have no other viable option to escape domestic violence. The shelter provides temporary safe housing for families while they acquire the skills and resources necessary to start their lives anew, free from violence and fear.

We try to make it as easy as possible for women to leave an unsafe home environment. Our goal is to help these families continue their lives with the least amount of disruption possible while they stabilize their lives within the safety of the shelter.

While at the shelter, the families are provided all of their immediate needs. The children go to school and we assist with arranging temporary shelter for family pets (through Summit County Friends of Animals http://www.friendsofanimals.net/) when necessary. Additionally, shelter residents receive the full range of support services provided to any client of Peace House, whether or not they are residents of the shelter.

A typical stay for a family at the shelter is about 34 days; some stay longer, some leave earlier. About 92% of those women leaving the shelter are able to achieve emotional and economic independence from their perpetrator and begin their lives anew.

The shelter was built in 1995 at an undisclosed location in a Park City residential neighborhood to help ensure the safety and confidentiality of the families it houses. It is a state-licensed facility with trained crisis response and support staff on site 24/7. It can accommodate up to 15 people (a combination of women and their children) in 5 private rooms, each with a different sleeping configuration.

In 2009, 62 women and 57 children found a safe haven at the Peace House shelter. They stayed 2594 nights. This is an increase of 32% from the previous year.

One success story:

Mary (not her real name) and her two children had been living in an emotionally and physically abusive relationship with a controlling man. She wanted to leave but was economically dependent on him, so did not know how. Another Park City social services organization where she had gone for help referred her to a Peace House case worker, who arranged for Mary and her children to move into the shelter.

After 29 days at the shelter, Mary moved to the home of a relative where she thought she might be safe. But, after her perpetrator learned of her new location, Mary realized she was once again in danger, so she returned to the shelter.

25 days later, Mary and her children moved in with a cousin until, with the help of the staff at Peace House, she was able to obtain her own transitional housing apartment.

Mary will continue to receive support from Peace House for as long as she requests it. Over a year later, she has not returned to her perpetrator.