Background and Accomplishments

Safe Haven Ministries, located in Grand Rapids (Mich.), is a non-profit organization which grew out of Ramoth House, a domestic violence shelter established by six local churches in 1990. Since its inception, the organization has served more than 5,000 women and their children from Kent, Ottawa and Allegan counties. Safe Haven offers shelter, counseling, support groups and other forms of assistance designed to protect, empower and support women and their children who have experienced domestic abuse.

Over the years, it became evident that the needs of the women and children were greater than could be met through the 30-day shelter experience at Ramoth House, which led to the opening of Safe Haven Ministries in 1999. The expansion of the organization into Safe Haven Ministries allowed the staff to offer additional services to meet a wider range of needs for a racially and economically diverse clientele.

In 2009, Safe Haven Ministries grew once again as it faced a critical community need for additional shelter space for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. The organization completed a $900,000 capital campaign to purchase and renovate a new facility that effectively increased shelter capacity by 250 percent.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has applauded our work, distinctive for our unique expertise in responding to a victim’s identified faith-based concerns regarding domestic violence. Safe Haven respects the spiritual needs and desires of each individual and does not require any religious affiliation nor discriminate according to denomination or beliefs.

Because of its faith-based origin, Safe Haven plays a unique role in the community, reaching the often overlooked population of abused women in the faith community. Women of faith and their children are not immune to domestic violence. Rather, they often suffer in silence allowing spiritual concerns to prevent them from seeking assistance at community shelters and service organizations. However, Safe Haven has opened a door to these women by making available spiritual counsel and guidance for those that seek it. Safe Haven serves all people equally without discrimination according to age, race, religious belief, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or socio-economic status.