Shelter & Housing

Safe Voices operates two shelters for survivors of domestic abuse and their children, as well as an emergency safe house for survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation. All our shelter facilities are secure and protect the confidentiality of those staying there.

At our domestic violence shelter, residents share bedrooms, bathrooms, and common living spaces. We provide basic necessities such as food, clothing, and personal care items. Residents participate in shelter-based education programs, and have assistance through individual advocacy, case management, and safety planning during their stay. See below for information specific to our Safe House program for victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Shelter Living

• Our shelter is a safe, secure, and handicapped-accessible facility in a confidential location.
• The shelter is an old Victorian home arranged for communal living.
• The home features a full kitchen, complete with dining areas and booster seats for children, a large living room and children’s play area. Our converted attic houses a clothing boutique with clothing for men, women, and children. There is a laundry facility in the basement and a fenced, private backyard with a wrap-around fence for security and a children’s playground.
• Our shelter is staffed nearly 24 hours a day by our advocates who are present during weekday, evening and weekend hours. 
• Individual advocacy and case management services are provided including personalized safety planning, education on the dynamics of domestic violence, support groups and emotional support, housing assessments, and referrals to community-based resources.
• Our Shelter Advocates, in coordination with our Housing Coordinator, provide assistance with applying for and obtaining safe, permanent housing.
• Our Child Advocate connects families to various resources that can help meet their children’s needs. These resources may include free or low-cost clothing, diapers, transportation to and advocacy with the child’s school, and referrals to childcare providers, counselors, doctors, and child development services. The Child Advocate also provides education and support to parents regarding children’s behaviors.
• The shelter is pet-friendly, but our ability to accept pets will depend upon our capacity at the time of the request. Safe Voices collaborates with the local Humane Society to foster pets as needed during an individual’s stay in our shelter.
• With regard to service animals at shelter, we support and follow laws and guidelines for disabled persons and use the Maine Human Rights Act as a model for our policy. For more information, please contact us at info@safevoices.com.

Safe House Services

Safe Voices operates an emergency Safe House shelter for survivors of human sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. Surviving human sex trafficking and enduring sexual exploitation is difficult and complex. We recognize that access to safe, confidential spaces and services are critical for survivors. No survivor should have to make that journey alone.

At our Safe House, residents have private bedrooms and share bathrooms and common living spaces. We provide basic necessities such as food, clothing, personal care items, and temporary financial assistance. Residents participate in Safe House-based educational programs, have assistance through individual advocacy, and safety planning during their stay.

Safe House Living

• Our Safe House is a secure facility in a confidential location and with 6 private rooms for self-identified female adults.
• The Safe House is a large home, handicapped-accessible, and arranged for communal living.
• The Safe House provides a private yard with a wrap-around fence for further security.
• The home features a full kitchen with laundry access, complete with a dining area, and living room area in an open concept communal space. Also featured is a kitchenette equipped with individual mini-fridges for each resident similarly connected to another living room area and sun room.
• The Safe House provides a computer station with internet access equipped with a desktop computer, printing access, and resident phone line for communal use.
• The basement of our Safe House has been converted into a clothing boutique with clothing ranging in styles and sizes, and with seasonal necessity items.
• Our Safe House is staffed nearly 24 hours a day by our advocates who are present during weekday, evening, overnight, and weekend hours. 
• Individual advocacy and services are provided including personalized safety planning, educational programs with life-skill sessions, career mapping with resume building, support groups and emotional support, housing assessments, and referrals to community-based resources.
• Our Safe House Advocates, in coordination with our Housing Navigator and Trafficking Outreach & Resource Advocate, provide assistance with applying for and obtaining safe, permanent housing.
• The Safe House maintains a no-pet policy, however, we help survivors consider care and options for their pets when preparing their safety plans. Safe Voices collaborates with the local Humane Society to foster pets during an individual’s stay in Safe House.
• With regard to service animals at Safe House, we support and follow laws and guidelines for disabled persons using the Maine Human Rights Act as a model for our policy. For more information, please contact us at info@safevoices.com.