One of the first supporters of Beaman Home’s plans for a new Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter and Outreach Center, K21 Health Foundation committed a cap grant of $250,000 to the Beaman Home’s project. Pictured from left are Hodson, Beaman Home executive director; Valerie Warner, K21 board member; Joe Hawn, K21 board member; Shari Boyle, K21 board member; and Rich Haddad, president of K21 Health Foundation.

It is a tragic fact that 1 in 4 women will experience some type of domestic violence in their lifetime. When a domestic violence victim flees her abuser, it’s important she and her children have some place safe to go. In Kosciusko County, that place is the Beaman Home.

The current shelter is a nearly 100-year-old, 1,800-square-foot single-family home with 3 bedrooms. In the mid-1980s, the home was converted into a domestic violence shelter with 13 permanent beds.

Since July 1985, the Beaman Home Emergency Shelter has operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Opening their doors to a victim who was waiting on the porch because she’d heard the new shelter was opening, Beaman Home has never gone a night when someone did not need their services.

Last year, the Beaman Home Emergency Shelter provided safety and assistance to nearly 150 victims, with the daily average occupation of 10 women and children. In addition to sharing the living areas of the home, frequently, families are asked to share the small bedrooms to make enough room for everyone seeking help.

Self-sufficiency workshops and activities take place in the only rooms in the house – the living room and kitchen. The limited space increases the stress and anxiety of families who are already in crisis.

Beaman Home has embarked upon a $1.8 million capital campaign to raise funds for a new Emergency Shelter and Outreach Center. The organization plans an extensive renovation and expansion of an already purchased building on Parker Street in Warsaw. Once completed, the shelter will have 10 resident rooms set up as suites with two rooms sharing a common restroom. It will include two living rooms and adequate staff space.  The Outreach Center will include a great room, teaching kitchen, adequate meeting and staff space, as well as a children’s activity area.

“The goal of the new Emergency Shelter and Outreach Center is to eliminate resident overcrowding and provide exceptional, confidential victim assistance in a facility specifically designed to do so. The design is intended to empower victims by providing them with accommodating, comfortable and safe surroundings. It will also enable the Beaman Home to continue to live its mission while providing a living experience focused on quality of life, dignity, safety and independence,” explains Tracie Hodson, Beaman Home executive director.

One of the first supporters of Beaman Home’s project, the K21 Health Foundation committed a cap grant of $250,000 to the $1.8 million project. This means, Beaman Home is challenged to raise all but $250,000 of the total budget, and K21 will “cap off” or finish the campaign.

“It is unfortunate, but the reality is that the Beaman Home is very important to our community and the residents that are dealing with various forms of domestic violence in their lives,” said K21 President Rich Haddad. “At K21, we truly believe the community will strongly respond to the need for a new facility to enhance Beaman Home’s services, and our Cap Grant reflects our confidence in the community to support this capital campaign,” Haddad concluded.

If you would like more information about the Beaman Home and its plans for a new Emergency Shelter and Outreach Center, please call Beaman Home Executive Director Tracie Hodson, at 574-372-3503 or email her at [email protected].