Editor’s note: This version clarifies information in the 22nd paragraph about money committed to date by the Poulsbo-North Kitsap Rotary Foundation.
POULSBO — The setting will be a nurturing and healing one: A forest of alders, cedars and firs. A 1.3-acre park with playground. A walking trail. And neighbors with a shared experience: They’ve escaped domestic violence. And they’re rebuilding their lives.
This is the setting of what will be Morrow Manor, a neighborhood of four duplexes in northeast Poulsbo that will be home for women and children who have survived domestic violence and are transitioning into mainstream life.
Morrow Manor is transitional, meaning women and their children can stay there for up to six years until they have the resources to be economically self-sufficient. Residents will be in college and/or building careers. They will pay rent, based on what they can afford. Many of them will be participating in the YWCA of Kitsap County’s safety net of supportive services, such as counseling, support groups, and case management.
The 2.3-acre site was donated by a member of the Poulsbo/North Kitsap Rotary Club — he’s asked to remain anonymous — and ultimately will be owned by the YWCA of Kitsap County; the park will be deeded to the city.
The donor said a niece and her two children had survived domestic violence, and when he learned of the transitional housing project through the Rotary Club, he wanted to help.
The YWCA of Kitsap County “does good work,” he said.
The duplexes will be named in honor of Ardis Morrow, a longtime advocate for change in domestic violence laws and in DV services in the county. She is the founder of Eli’s House, a duplex of transitional homes in Poulsbo named in memory of her great-grandnephew, a 3-year-old who died after being kicked by his father in 1986.
Morrow Manor will be one of three transitional housing opportunities in the area. The other is Tersha’s House in Silverdale, named for Tersha Jo Brown, who was shot to death by her boyfriend in Sacramento in 2009.
Advocates say the need for transitional housing is greater than what’s available.
According to a Morrow Manor fact sheet, Kitsap County CenCom reported an average of 5,862 domestic violence incidents annually in 2010-13. An average of 1,545, or slightly more than 25 percent of those incidents, were categorized as a “potential danger to life” or “life in jeopardy.”
In 2013, the YWCA ALIVE Shelter, which provides temporary emergency housing for women and children affected by domestic violence, was unable to provide shelter or housing for 1,020 women and children because of lack of capacity. (Jackie Brown, director of YWCA’s shelter and housing programs, said when the shelter is full, YWCA reaches out to shelters statewide).
In addition, women and children are remaining in the ALIVE shelter longer than the usual 30-60 days because of lack of affordable and safe housing in the county.
And yet, a secure home is a key component in recovering from domestic violence. The YWCA’s HomePlus program — the next step for transitional housing residents — helps domestic violence survivors with housing location and placement, financial assistance with housing costs, advocacy and assistance in overcoming barriers such as poor credit history or debt, and case management focused on acquiring or maintaining a permanent home.
HomeFirst is funded by a grant from the Gates Foundation. In its four years, all HomeFirst participants reported moderate or strong improvement in their quality of life and were more comfortable accessing other resources available in the community. Ninety-five percent had retained housing by the end of 2013, 94 percent found it easier to set and achieve life goals, 88 percent felt safe in their home most or all of the time, 84 percent felt like they were a part of the neighborhood and community in which they lived.
Amy Sanford, a member of the local Rotary Club, said she got the courage to escape a physically abusive marriage when, during another visit to the hospital emergency room, her daughter asked her, “Mom, when is this going to end?” Sanford and her daughter escaped with the help of a pastor.
Safe housing provided Sanford the stability and support she needed to return to school and earn a degree in accounting. She now works in Seattle and lives on Bainbridge Island.
“Earning my degree took the power away from him,” she said. “I could stand on my own two feet.”
Where the project stands: Team 4 Engineering is establishing property boundaries, preparing the site plan and creating other documentation required by the city so the 2.3 acres can be divided and the homes can be built.
An architect, a member of the Rotary Club, is volunteering his time to develop the site plan and design the homes.
A general contractor, also a club member, will serve as general contractor. A general manager will be hired to track the day-to-day project construction.
A lawyer, also a club member, has volunteered to prepare the legal documents necessary for transfer of property ownership.
The Poulsbo-North Kitsap Rotary Club Foundation is the applicant for all grants and will serve as custodian of all funds received. The foundation now has $120,000 in cash or committed funds to provide support for the YWCA client advocacy/case management at Morrow Manor for 10 years.
The capital campaign for construction will begin this month. The goal is $2.5 million.
“We hope to start construction by June 2016,” the donor said.
The city Parks and Recreation Department will design the park, with public input.
Donations may be made out to the Poulsbo–NK Rotary Foundation (note “for Morrow Manor” on the memo line) and mail to Poulsbo-NK Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 1334, Poulsbo, WA 98370. All contributions are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged by letter.
If you have any questions, contact Chad Solvie, chairman, Domestic Violence Committee, 360-394-4010 or csolvie@mmhc.org.
CALL FOR HELP
You can break free from domestic violence. The YWCA wants to help.
One: Call 9-1-1 or the YWCA Domestic Violence hotline, 800-500-5513. Jackie Brown, director of YWCA’s shelter and housing programs, said local transportation to the confidentially located emergency shelter is available. If space is not available in the YWCA’s ALIVE Shelter (ALIVE is the acronym for Alternatives to Living in a Violent Environment), the YWCA will reach out to other shelters in the state.
Two: The YWCA ALIVE program will provide you and your children with counseling, clothing and food, children’s activities, housing and employment advocacy, support groups, and transportation.
Three: YWCA ALIVE’s Legal Advocacy Program will provide you with court accompaniment; assistance obtaining restraining, protection and anti-harassment orders; safety planning; counseling and referral services; assistance filing Crime Victims Compensation Claims; and enrollment in the Address Confidentiality Program.
Four: YWCA ALIVE/DSHS WorkFirst provides case management services for clients referred by the DSHS Bremerton Community Services Office. An ALIVE advocate assists WorkFirst program participants in overcoming barriers to successfully transitioning to work.
Five: YWCA ALIVE Transitional Housing provides housing in Poulsbo and Bremerton, where women and children can stay until they have the resources to be economically self-sufficient.
YWCA’s services are also available to men who are victims of domestic violence. “We don’t turn anyone away,” Brown said.
Online: www.ywcakitsap.org. Or call 360-479-1980.
