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<br /> <br /> <br /> Shelter Agencies For Families in East Texas, Inc. <br /> <br /> To: The City of Paris: <br /> <br /> This document will provide you some information regarding SAFE-T and it's achievements over the past <br /> years. We realize that we are new to this area, although we have been providing domestic violence and <br /> sexual assault services for the past 15 years. <br /> <br /> History and Background: <br /> <br /> SAFE-T was founded in 1995 in Titus County in order to provide shelter to abused women and children in <br /> a four county area: Titus, Camp, Franklin and Morris. Funds were raised and grants awarded allowing <br /> the opening of the first shelter in August 1996. Since that time, many new programs were added along <br /> with increased Federal and State funding. SAFE-T currently has a domestic violence program along with <br /> shelter for 30 persons, a Sexual Assault Program, Anger Management and Child Visitation Programs. <br /> <br /> Services include crisis intervention, transportation, a 24 hour hotline, housing assistance, legal <br /> assistance and advocacy, many groups for women, men and teens, community education programs in <br /> local schools and for civic groups, counseling, and translation. What began as an emergency shelter is <br /> now a multi program agency that hosts a variety of monthly trainings for many groups, including CPS <br /> and law enforcement. This past February over 40 law enforcement officers and advocates attended the <br /> training provided by Texas Association Against Sexual Assault at the Paris Junior College hosted by SAFE- <br /> T. <br /> <br /> Three years ago at the persuasion of a volunteer group from Lamar County, SAFE-T opened an outreach <br /> office for victims of family violence in Paris, Texas. The opening of this office was done on a conditional <br /> basis: that an office could be located that was rent-free and that it be manned by volunteers trained by <br /> SAFE-T staff. This office was operated on a month-to-month basis, as the victim services to this county <br /> and surrounding counties had been reduced and continuation of services was uncertain. SAFE-T Board <br /> of Directors committed to temporarily assist victims as long as needed, but the outcome of making this <br /> <br /> office permanent was dependent upon the completion of an investigation into the shelter providing <br /> services in this region. This investigation now over will allow SAEF-T to open a domestic violence shelter <br /> in Paris. Texas Department of Human Services which currently funds SAFE-T domestic Violence program <br /> will consider awarding an additional $45,000 for a satellite shelter in Paris. HHSC requires 24/7 staffing, <br /> along with many other requirements. It is estimated that operating a Paris shelter will cost <br /> approximately $110,000 per year. This is based on the estimated expenses SAFE-T incurred for the <br /> Mount Pleasant shelter services. The Child Advocacy Center has offered to donate property to SAFE-T to <br /> build new offices/shelter complex. This offer is still under discussion and may be the stepping stone to <br /> building a shelter in Paris. This will take much community support, financial and other. <br /> <br /> SAFE-T staff and volunteers continue to transport clients from Paris to Mount Pleasant for services for <br /> shelter services. Maintaining a volunteer office in Paris for over one year had it's obstacles. Volunteers <br /> <br /> with all good intentions gradually stopped coming to the office which was opened daily Monday-Friday <br /> 10:00-4:00 p.m. There was illness and financial hardship. In spite of this, the office continued to be <br /> manned by basically three volunteers. Each evening the local phone was transferred to the SAFE-T <br /> hotline which is answered in Mount Pleasant by trained staff. SAFE-T had decided that the commitment <br /> <br /> <br /> 1 <br /> <br /> <br /> 136 <br />