A refuge for the abused

WORKING TO RAISE AWARENESS: Vanessa Volz, executive director of Sojourner House, speaks with Helen McDonald, at left, youth advocate and educational coordinator. Anthony Faccenda, men's services coordinator, is seen at right. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
WORKING TO RAISE AWARENESS: Vanessa Volz, executive director of Sojourner House, speaks with Helen McDonald, at left, youth advocate and educational coordinator. Anthony Faccenda, men's services coordinator, is seen at right. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

As Sojourner House marks its 40th anniversary, the domestic-violence-awareness nonprofit looks ahead to new funding opportunities and extending outreach into more marginalized communities.

Executive Director Vanessa Volz attributes the organization’s longevity to its community of volunteers.

“This work is very emotionally draining. It’s difficult to work with clients that have experienced such horrible things,” she said.

Last year volunteers helped answer 2,957 hotline calls, teach 892 students about healthy relationships and staff a shelter that provided overnight aid to more than 3,000 people.

- Advertisement -

Begun in 1976 by a group of Brown University graduates and staff, Sojourner House manages transitional and emergency housing for victims of domestic violence.

“Our greatest challenge is the demand for services and being able to meet that demand,” said Volz, noting the 35 families now on a waiting list for housing.

A recent gift by the Kraft family of the New England Patriots may help alleviate the financial burden. Sojourner House received part of $1.5 million donated by the Kraft family to four organizations and was the only Rhode Island agency honored. Last fall it was awarded $50,000, with the potential for another $50,000 if it could match it dollar for dollar with community fundraising. Sojourner House qualified for the match by raising $57,000.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft called Volz on the NFL’s opening day.

“The New England Patriots’ gift allowed us to expand our transitional housing services,” said Volz of the program that provides a family with subsidized housing.

According to the agency, its mission is “to provide culturally sensitive support, advocacy, safety and respect for victims of domestic abuse and to effect systems change.”

With this in mind, in 2012 Sojourner House expanded outreach to victims of domestic violence living in Rhode Island’s immigrant communities. In 2015 the organization provided immigration advocacy to 35 clients, effectively removing them from harmful situations.

This initiative won it the Rhode Island Foundation’s Innovation Award as one of five nonprofits honored in the foundation’s 2016 Best Practices Awards co-sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

“Due to a victim’s immigration status, an abusive partner may use specific tactics to exert power and control over them. Our immigration program provides these clients with critical, life-saving legal advocacy and we’re honored that the program is being recognized,” Volz said in a foundation statement.

She sees domestic violence as a “public-health epidemic.

“Across the board, domestic violence does not discriminate,” she said, though last year 90 percent of Sojourner House’s clientele was female.

Volz is proud of her work, but: “At the end of the day we want to put ourselves out of business. In order for that to happen, we need to raise awareness and change societal attitudes, which is a long-term project.” •

No posts to display