SafeHaven of Tarrant County

Ending Domestic Violence

By Katrina McDowell on Jan 8, 2024 in Giving

Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees.

SafeHaven of Tarrant County, founded in 1976 in Arlington, Texas, is the only state-designated center for family violence in the county. Throughout SafeHaven’s history, they have never strayed from a mission to end domestic violence.

SafeHaven creates a custom service plan for every family who walks through its doors. SafeHaven is the only 24/7 domestic violence hotline in Tarrant County and connects families to robust resources, including emergency shelters, transitional housing, counseling, legal aid and more.

SafeHaven’s Prevention Department focuses on preventing and decreasing dating violence and bullying by implementing evidence-based school programs. Its Partner Abuse Intervention and Prevention Department works with domestic violence offenders to end violence in their relationships.

“We will not stop until EVERY woman in Tarrant County feels safe in her relationship,” expressed Kendra Balod, director of development for SafeHaven.

SafeHaven is collaborating with RAND Corporation to develop a nationally recognized tool to help the criminal justice system and others in the work of domestic violence to determine the dominant aggressor in an abusive intimate partner relationship.

“We are proud to announce the tool will begin testing at law enforcement agencies nationwide in 2024. In addition to survivor resources, our goal is to emphasize research and continue bettering the systems survivors count on daily to survive,” said Balod.

Funding from Yardi is vital in keeping survivors and their children safe and holding offenders accountable. When a woman gets the courage to call the hotline, she must count on a secure room in the shelter. Yardi’s contribution makes that safety possible and funds vital work in bettering the system for those who depend on it to survive.

“We were thrilled to receive such a generous gift from Yardi! Domestic violence affects everyone, and it’s vital to have such supportive community partners on our team. Partnering with new organizations like Yardi in this important work is always exciting. This gift is truly life-changing for women and children in our county,” Balod shared.

Carrie’s Venture

Carrie arrived at the shelter after finding herself in a familiar but painful situation: returning to her abuser after once again being charmed by him. But this time would be different – Carrie was determined to provide her children with a better and safer environment. Their home life was no longer acceptable.

SafeHaven’s team helped Carrie find employment just two weeks into her stay, and the shelter’s children’s team provided free daycare so Carrie wouldn’t have to worry about her kids’ safety while she was at work. Despite her former partner intentionally damaging her car, Carrie’s support network helped her acquire new transportation for her family.

Finding affordable housing after shelter can be tricky. Still, Carrie was determined, and SafeHaven helped her find a new apartment close to work and provided the essentials for her new home. Carrie left the shelter and moved into her home in a much-improved state of mind. She felt safe and independent and was proud of the life she created for her children.

Carrie has continued participating in SafeHaven’s domestic violence group sessions to learn more about warning signs and establishing boundaries and communication in new relationships.

“Carrie showed that with determination and life-saving community resources, freedom from domestic violence IS possible,” expressed Balod.

Volunteer Opportunities

There are multiple volunteer opportunities at SafeHaven. To learn more, please email SafeHaven’s volunteer manager, Katy Pirot, at [email protected].

In Tarrant County, one in three women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.

“The number one rule of being an ally to a victim of domestic violence is to believe her. Often, abusers can be charming, and it can be hard to believe that someone you know can do such bad things to their partner. It’s not your role to investigate for abuse – your role is to listen, believe, and support her. You can always call us with questions. Our hotline is available 24/7 at 1-877-701-7233,” stated Balod.

Find future non-profit profiles at https://www.yardi.com/blog/category/giving.