July 24, 2008 at 7:43 a.m.
Refuge Network well on its way toward opening first shelter for victims of domestic abuse in this area
Refuge Network well on its way toward opening first shelter for victims of domestic abuse in this area
The Refuge Board of Directors has accepted an anonymous gift of a 10-acre homesite in north Chisago County and United Way announced a major financial grant to support this important project.
The shelter is the piece that network advocates and victims of domestic abuse say has been needed. Initial abuse complaint response staff, court advocates, counselors and safe home providers all say lack of shelter space has been the network's weak link.
One local official attending the shelter groundbreaking last week was Chisago County Commissioner Lynn Schultz. She got involved in The Refuge soon after she was elected four years ago, as Chisago County has contracted for services and funds the organization at
Schultz said the board of directors agonized about taking on the shelter-gift for some time. If the organization opened a shelter in this region, "...there'd be no going back"
But things started to fall into place, Schultz said, and it just seemed that this was something the organization was meant to undertake.
A groundbreaking was celebrated July 18 on the lawn of the future shelter. Home Sweet Home Builders of Isanti County is constructing an addition to the house before it opens. This will double its bedroom-living space, add storage and a full basement, and the existing interior will see minor remodeling. When it opens the shelter will have room for 15 victims of domestic abuse.
It will be a place to go, in a rural area, where isolation is the number one hurdle a person clawing their way out of an abusive relationship needs to clear.
Domestic abuse victim Tenna Carson told the crowd gathered that she would have been helped greatly had there been a shelter in this area when she was in the throes of being abused. Women find excuses to stay in dangerous relationships because they don't want to uproot their kids, change their schools, daycares; maybe change jobs-- just to get distance from an abuser. Studies show abused persons endure several incidents before they leave the relationship.
Carson said this place will be where abused women can rebuild their self-esteem, work on life and career goals, and children can relax.
Another victim of abuse, Penny Peters, was stabbed several times by her abuser before she could get out.
She said The Refuge staff even helped with caring for her pets-- which her abuser threatened to harm or kill if she left. After the attack, through The Refuge, she said she began to rediscover herself.
Not having a shelter nearby was the main reason she didn't leave.
United Way Senior Vice President of Community Impact Frank Forsberg, said United Way is helping support this project because domestic violence negatively affects so many aspects of society. Children in abusive homes don't learn and don't apply themselves, what they do learn is the cycle of abuse. Family potential is diminished. Wage earnings, productivity, positive community contributions by the family are impossible in an abusive atmosphere.
The United Way mission is to unite caring people to build a healthier and stronger community, said Forsberg and The Refuge Network is committed to this.
Watch this paper for future announcements on fundraiser events for the shelter and The Refuge Network in general.
The United Way will contribute $200,000 to the capital campaign for the shelter, and the network seeks to raise at least $250,000. Contributions to United Way should be earmarked for the "Black Dog Hill shelter."
Plan to attend a fundraiser to be announced in the coming weeks; or donate directly to The Refuge Network, P.O. Box 323, Cambridge, MN 55008.
Executive Director Roxie Karelis can be reached at roxiek@therefu genetwork.org.
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