Today's "Nights of Safety" program remains true to ALIVE's founders' original conecept of providing temporary emergency sanctuary and transportation to victims of domestic violence, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Unique in the St. Louis area, this emergency sanctuary program is utilized when there are no available beds in the St. Louis area domestic violence shelters. During Fiscal Year 2006/07, 170 victims of domestic violence and their 260 children received emergency shelter, totaling 1,391 Nights of Safety.
One problem women often encounter when fleeing abusive relationships is that many domestic violence shetlers will not accept male children over 15 years of age who might be traveling with their mothers. This factor makes the decision to leave a relationship even more difficult. Therefore, ALIVE has no age limit for male children.
Domestic violence shelter space is very limited and area shelter beds are often completely full. When a woman has several children, it makes finding shelter space even harder. Therefore, ALIVE has no limit on the number of children an individual can bring. Our sanctuary is never full.
When victims call ALIVE's 24-hour crisis line for emergency shelter, they can be assured that they will not have to spend another night in danger, despite a lack of personal resources or local shelter availability. ALIVE provides transportation to adults and children in crisis. The basic needs of victims and their children will be met, thus enabling them to set goals for developing self-sufficiency and personal safety.
