Friday, March 29, 2024
 
Click HERE to sign up to receive Eye On Sun Valley's Daily News Email
 
Advocates-‘Our Services Save Lives’
Loading
   
Sunday, June 25, 2017
 

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

An African safari and a sojourn in a Tuscany villa became the means to building safe lives Friday night.

The Advocates auctioned off the two packages at their annual Black & White Soiree at Trail Creek Pavilion.

“It’s not just a shelter. We do a lot of education and creating awareness about issues,” said Katie Peters, a Community School senior who has helped The Advocates teach her peers about building safe relationships. “Right now I’d say our biggest issue is building tolerance for people of all races, ethnicities –that kind of thing.”

Jim Spinelli, who is succeeding Amanda Breen as board president, told the 225 attendees that the Advocates had provided shelter for 695 women and children during the past year.

“You don’t need to know everything we do because we do an awful lot,” he said. “Our services change lives and our services save lives.”

The Advocates has set its sights on a capital campaign to build more transitional housing and replace or remodel its aging office facilities. The organization is looking at a few locations in Hailey, including its current space.

It’s possible, for instance, that The Advocates could add transitional housing as part of a second story on top of its offices if it were to rebuild.

The Advocates established a Housing First program this past year to get survivors of domestic violence into stable housing as quickly as possible so they can begin rebuilding their lives. The four-bedroom transitional housing facility has been full since it opened in March 2016.

Transitional housing is designed to be a temporary step on the way to women finding their own place. But there has been a lack of affordable housing for them to make the transition to.

Domestic violence is the biggest cause of homelessness among women and children, The Advocates Executive Director Tricia Swartling told Soiree attendees.

It causes despair, hopelessness and a feeling that “nothing’s out there for me,” she added.

The Advocates are currently hosting 18 women and children and one dog in their shelter and nine women and children in transitional housing. Stable housing is critical for women to make the decision to remove their children and themselves from abusive situations, Swartling added.

Among those attending the Soiree were a group of women from the philanthropic Wood River Women’s Foundation—Corey Graham, Cheri Watson, Renata Beguin, Debra Rogers, Carol Sheifele-Holmes, Joanne Wetherell and Sherry Propst St. Clair.

The organization awarded $25,000 to the Housing First program earlier this year.

Also attending were Cate Cox and Jeanne Meyer.

“It’s a fabulous organization,” said Meyer.”And, besides, we both have lots of black and white outfits!”

To learn more about The Advocates, go to www.theadvocatesorg.org or call 208-788-4191. For help, call 208-788-6070 or toll free 888-676-0066.

~  Today's Topics ~


Local Bands Offer New Perspective on Who's a Local

Can You Ski on Water? It’s Pond Skim Time

Jake Adicoff Wins Overall World Cup Championship while Other Skiers Do Well in SuperTour Finals
 
 

 

 

 

 
Website problems? Contact:
Michael Hobbs
General Manager /Webmaster
Mike@EyeOnSunValley.com
 
Got a story? Contact:
Karen Bossick
Editor in Chief
(208) 578-2111
Karen@EyeOnSunValley.com
 
 
Advertising /Marketing /Public Relations
Leisa Hollister
Chief Marketing Officer
(208) 450-9993
leisahollister@gmail.com
 
Brandi Huizar
Account Executive
(208) 329-2050
brandi@eyeonsunvalley.com
 
 
ABOUT US
EyeOnSunValley.com is the largest online daily news media service in The Wood River Valley, publishing 7 days a week. Our website publication features current news articles, feature stories, local sports articles and video content articles. The Eye On Sun Valley Show is a weekly primetime television show focusing on highlighted news stories of the week airing Monday-Sunday, COX Channel 13. See our interactive Kiosks around town throughout the Wood River Valley!
 
info@eyeonsunvalley.com      Press Releases only
 
P: 208.720.8212
P.O. Box 1453 Ketchum, ID  83340
LOGIN

© Copyright 2023 Eye on Sun Valley