Safe House offers safe place day or night

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Safe House for Women plans to build a new emergency shelter, expand nonresidential services and increase the case management services this year.

As executive director of the Safe House for Women, Linda Garner has seen the devastation that domestic violence can bring to women. She's also seen how a domestic violence shelter can bring protection and some peace of mind to victims of domestic abuse.

Garner wishes that all women knew what she knows.

"Just when I think we have saturated the community with fliers, brochures, public service announcements, direct mail pieces, stories in the media or thrift shop sales, I run into someone in the community who says, 'I didn't know there was a Safe House for Women,'" Garner said.

Garner is on a mission to educate women not only on Safe House for Women but on domestic violence in general.

Prevention education is one of the services provided by Safe House, in addition to counseling, court advocacy and, of course, shelter. Safe House has been helping victims of domestic violence for 19 years.

Plans for the coming year are to build a new emergency shelter, expand nonresidential services and increase the case management services provided by the not-for-profit organization.

Location of the shelter is confidential to protect the victims of abuse, but there is an outreach office and thrift shop at 1810 Plaza Way in Cape Girardeau. Clients of Safe House can shop for free at the thrift shop, which is supported by voluntary donations.

Anyone interested in information about Safe House for Women can call 573-335-7745.