Mission: Hope Harbor Home strives to break the cycle of domestic and sexual violence in Brunswick County, NC with safe shelter, advocacy and education.

 

Need: There are women and children in Brunswick County who find themselves in an often life threatening violent domestic situation that often can only be resolved if they leave that residence. They need a safe place to go and a way to start a new life that requires money, support and, importantly, confidentiality so that abusive household members can no longer cause them harm.

 

Methods: Hope Harbor Home provides around-the-clock safe shelter to domestic violence victims and their children in Brunswick County. Victims are offered a comprehensive range of advocacy services designed to help them build a safe, nonviolent future for themselves and their children. Those services include assistance with housing and other means of relocation, vocational and educational guidance, and psychological therapy by trauma-trained clinicians, justice system advocacy, life coaching and financial literacy.

 

In addition to direct service to victims, Hope Harbor Home conducts violence prevention programs in the Brunswick County Schools and throughout the community. Prevention efforts are age-specific and audience-specific, with the common theme of promoting nonviolent problem solving and coping skills. Prevention topics include bullying, online protection against sexual predation, safe dating for teens, ethical behaviors, relationship red flags and safety planning.

 

Hope Harbor receives funding from private and public grants at the federal, state and local level. A large portion of the expenses for the shelter are covered by profits from the three Hope Chest Thrift Shops in Brunswick County. Donations from the private sector – area churches, civic groups, and private citizens – also help with expenses. Hope Harbor has been very fortunate to be the beneficiary of 3 annual fundraisers organized by civic groups and private citizens of Brunswick County.

 

Results: In fiscal year 2012-13 Hope Harbor Home provided more than 2,500 nights of shelter to more than 350 women and children. The shelter has 17 adult beds and 5 cribs.

 

Our Vision is to be the best domestic violence center in Southeastern North Carolina, providing comprehensive care to women and children in need.

 

Personal Story: In the past three weeks, Hope Harbor Home has assisted one victim, who had been sheltered with the agency for three months, in relocating more than 3,000 miles away to escape a violent and mentally ill husband who had held her captive for more than 20 years; found housing and helped with moving expenses, job search and home furnishings for a young mother of two who was leaving an abusive partner; and provided free counseling sessions with a licensed professional therapist to eight victims of domestic violence and their children.