Safe house opens for abuse victims

Genesis House, a local domestic violence safe house for women, was introduced Sunday with a christening and private tour.

The home was organized by community activist Patti O’Berry, who founded Hands of a Friend, a non-profit domestic violence foundation in 2005, to help fund the shelter.

To protect the future occupants, the Green Valley News has agreed not to publish the address of the shelter.

More than 80 people attended the event blessed by the Rev. Fred Eaton of the Grace Church of Sahuarita, including community leaders, members of the local law enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, clergy, and representatives of various Arizona domestic violence groups. State Rep. Jonathan Paton, R-Tucson, and State Sen. Tim Bee, R-Corona de Tucson, along with his wife, Grace, and two of their six children also attended.

Bee and his wife have both been supporters of programs and facilities for domestic-violence victims.

His wife admitted that domestic violence had impacted her family, too, with a relative fleeing domestic abuse.

“Domestic violence knows no boundaries,” Grace Bee said. “It touches many families no matter what their backgrounds may be.”

Bee, who has backed Genesis House since it was first proposed, said that domestic violence in Arizona is one of the most common 9-1-1 calls.

“Nationally, it is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44, and of the nearly two million women abused by their partners in our country, only one in 10 incidents are ever reported,” Bee said.

He explained that nearly 25 years ago, Arizona was one of the first states to get serious about domestic violence, changing laws, developing advocates and opening one of the nation’s first shelters.

“Since then, the state laws and policies have changed, getting tougher on abusers and dramatically increasing funding to domestic violence shelters,“ Bee added.

Still, Bee said, too many victims are turned away in Arizona because a shortage of shelter beds.

“Genesis House will help meet a tremendous need in Southern Arizona, “ he said.

The three-bedroom, 3,500-square-foot Genesis House was the gift of “a benevolent couple with nothing but love in their hearts,” O’Berry said.

The home includes a family suite, as well as two-car garage, large walk-in closets, family room/living room with fireplace, large kitchen, three bathrooms and a utility room.

There are also amenities for seniors who have been abused.

O’Berry and her staff of volunteers have decorated and stocked the home with all the necessities including a full pantry, extra bedding, a children’s library and study complete with books and games, dishes, and extra clothing like robes and slippers and other clothing to make the women’s transition more comfortable.

Elizabeth Houde, executive director of the Arizona Sexual Assault Network, was on hand and praised O’Berry for her dedication at getting a shelter established in the area of Green Valley and Sahuarita communities.

O’Berry also sits on the board of the Arizona Sexual Assault Network and is very active and in communication with other groups like the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Sage Bergstrom, clinical director at Casa de Esperanza said she was “extremely impressed” with Genesis House after the tour on Sunday.

“We get calls from women about all kinds of abuse, be it physical, emotional, financial, and other reasons,” Bergstrom said.

rford@gvnews.com |547-9740