Bellevue Legal News: Seattle Divorce & Domestic Violence Lawyer

Kent Domestic Violence Shelter Safe Havens Suffers Funding Issues

A Kent, Washington, organization that helps the survivors of domestic violence may have to close its doors due to funding woes – perhaps as early as this weekend. The organization, Safe Haven, which relies heavily on federal funding and donations, gives domestic violence survivors and their partners a safe place in which to conduct child visitations.

In many cases, domestic violence victims are at risk for further harm after the relationship is over – and can often occur when children are exchanged or visitations take place. This center minimizes the risk that parents take when allowing their ex-spouse to visit with their children if there is a protection order or restraining order on one of the partners.

Tracee Parker, the Program Director at Safe Havens, recalled one Seattle visitation event that took place in 1998. After the father dropped the child off in the parking lot, he approached his ex-wife and shot her four times. She was killed and so was her child, who was hit by a stray bullet while sitting in the back seat.

Safe Haven has special practices that allow children to see both of their parents without putting anyone in danger. The organization, which is funded partially through a federal grant, charges families between $2 and $5 per visit, making safe visitations affordable for most any family.

Now, the city of Kent, Washington is asking for a plan from the domestic violence support group, who say they are looking for donations and funding in order to keep their doors open even until the weekend.

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