Dwelling Place

PROVIDING SAFE HOUSING AND HOLISTIC PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN ESCAPING ABUSE.

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING - THE DWELLING PLACE HAS FIVE HOMES WHERE RESIDENTS MAY STAY UP TO 18 MONTHS TO HEAL AND LEARN SKILLS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE INDEPENDENT HOUSING, A SUSTAINING INCOME, AND LIVES FREE OF ABUSE. OUR LOCATIONS ARE LOCATED IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND ARE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR ABUSERS TO FIND THEIR VICTIMS. CURRENTLY OUR HOUSES SERVE MULTIPLE PURPOSES: SAFE SHELTER FOR THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WE SERVE, PROGRAM STAFF OFFICES, AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S GROUP PROGRAM SPACE. WE CAN HOUSE UP TO 50 INDIVIDUALS AT ONE TIME. THE HOMES ARE VERY NICE, CLEAN, FURNISHED, AND HAVE SECURITY SYSTEMS. IN 2021, WE SUCCESSFULLY HOUSED AND SERVED 24 WOMEN AND 26 CHILDREN (14 OF THE WOMEN ARE MOTHERS). OF THE 50 PEOPLE SERVED, 36% WERE CAUCASIAN, 34% AFRICAN AMERICAN, 12% AFRICAN, 10% HISPANIC, 8% NATIVE AMERICAN/CAUCASIAN. CHILDREN RANGED IN AGE FROM NEWBORN TO 18 YEARS, 9 BOYS AND 17 GIRLS; 100% BELOW THE POVERTY LINE AND CONSIDERED HOMELESS BY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. WE RECEIVED 215 CALLS FOR HELP WITH 175 CHILDREN - ALL VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. ALL WOMEN LEFT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUCCESSFULLY AND DETACHED FROM THEIR ABUSERS.

DOMESTIC ABUSE PROGRAM AND SUPPORT SERVICES - OUR TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE CONSISTS OF TWO PRIMARY HEALING PRINCIPLES: SAFETY AND EMPOWERMENT. WE HAVE OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. WE COMBINE BEST PRACTICES WITH A STRONG CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT. WE WERE FOUNDED ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IN ORDER TO HELP VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE HEAL FROM THEIR EMOTIONAL WOUNDS, OUR PROGRAMS MUST BE CHRIST-CENTERED AND COMPREHENSIVE - ADDRESSING THE WHOLE PERSON. THE DWELLING PLACE PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE DOMESTIC ABUSE PROGRAM AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS, INCLUDING INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT GROUPS, EDUCATION ON DOMESTIC ABUSE, CLASSES ON BUDGETING AND MANAGING FINANCES, PARENTING SKILLS, SHOPPING FOR AFFORDABLE GROCERIES AND COOKING NUTRITIOUS MEALS ON A LIMITED BUDGET, BIBLE STUDY AND CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL SUPPORT. COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS ALSO EXIST TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING, THERAPY, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAM - WITH SO MANY SINGLE MOTHERS IN OUR PROGRAMS, THE DWELLING PLACE ALSO PROVIDES PROGRAMMING FOR THEIR CHILDREN. ALL THE CHILDREN IN OUR HOMES RECEIVE ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT, MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, INDIVIDUAL TRAUMA THERAPY, AND AGE-APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO HELP THEM HEAL. ALL THE MOTHERS IN OUR PROGRAM ALSO RECEIVE PERSONALIZED PARENTING CASE MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATION TO HELP THEM MEET THEIR CHILDREN'S INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND FIND THE BEST SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THEIR FAMILY. WITH OUR CHILDREN'S PROGRAM, WE ENVISION ELIMINATING THE GENERATIONAL CYCLE OF ABUSE THROUGH EDUCATION AND BY SHOWING CHILDREN THEY ARE LOVED AND HAVE VALUE. THE GOAL IS TO PROMOTE HEALING FROM TRAUMA AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH IN SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND COGNITIVE SKILLS. CHILDREN IN OUR PROGRAM EXPERIENCE SAFETY AND FREEDOM FROM FEAR, STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR MOM, EXPRESS AND IDENTIFY EMOTIONS IN HEALTHY WAYS, AND LEARN DYNAMICS OF HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.

ALUMNI PROGRAM - IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019, WE LAUNCHED A NEW ALUMNI PROGRAM TO ENSURE SUSTAINED FREEDOM FROM ABUSE AND TO TRACK THE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF RESIDENTS WHO HAVE TRANSITIONED FROM THE DWELLING PLACE. WE OFFER A HIGHER LEVEL OF INTENTIONAL SUPPORT THROUGH MENTORSHIP, MONTHLY CASE MANAGEMENT, MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUP, AND QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES.