Sunday, May 03, 2009

Doorways


Each we at Try Change like to highlight an organization or person who is making a difference in our community. Tonight we would like to introduce our readers to Doorways. With so many stories of battered and abused women reported each year it's encouraging to see a organization like Doorways here in the DC area. Doorways runs the one and only domestic violence safe house in Arlington VA.

Established 1978, Doorways for Women and Families has provided services for thousands of women and families experiencing domestic violence and/or homelessness.
As noted on their website "Doorways is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that offers safe shelter to abused, homeless and at-risk women and families. The assistance Doorways provides helps clients develop the tools and resources essential to reclaiming self-sufficiency."

Services Doorway Provides:
Advocacy: In order to effectively advocate for the rights and needs of survivors and victims and ultimately eliminate the incidence of family violence and homelessness, we must advocate for those experiencing them on multiple levels; as individuals, as a community and institutionally through public policy.
Freddie Mac Foundation Family Home: A home and caring atmosphere providing basic life needs and individually-tailored support services that prepare clients to lead secure and self-sufficient lives.
Domestic Violence Program: A home free of abuse for women and their children where goals for safety, physical and mental health needs, finances, employment, housing, childcare and long-term stability are set and achieved.
HomeStart Supportive Housing Program: A new beginning for women and families ready to live independently.
Children's Services: Programs and services specifically designed to address the needs of children who have been displaced and/or victimized.
Financial Independence Track: A financial literacy program that helps homeless women and families understand how to better manage their finances and debt in order to help them escape poverty, domestic violence and homelessness.
Community Education: Doorways provides community education on the topics of homelessness and domestic violence to youth, teen and adult groups and through community wide events.

If you feel your in a dangerous relationship or just need to speak to someone you can call the Hotline, Safehouse, and Court Advocate Services (703) 237-0881 24-hour hotline.

What can you do to help Doorways?

Help at one of the Shelters by answering phones or supporting a family in need of assistance.

Donate money. $250 supplies perishable food for one shelter for a week; $1,000 pays for 60 hours of financial counseling for one women.

Donate items. Click here for a list of much needed items.


To learn more contact Email or call Kelly Blanchard, Volunteer Coordinator, 703-522-8858 x 33

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At Try Change we feel we can all make a difference. For us, we donate 10& of all our profits to Volunteers of America which serves the homeless in the DC,VA & MD areas. We also adopt a homeless family during the holiday season, donate clothes as well as hold an annual Charity yard sale for VOA.

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