 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
About Crossroads:
Crossroads operates a twelve bedroom Safe-house at a confidential location in Larimer County.
Battered women and their children receive shelter for up to six weeks.
Each family is given the privacy of their own bedroom, while enjoying the support of other residents through shared living, dining, and children's playroom areas.
Mission: Crossroads Safehouse creates a safe environment for victims of domestic violence and promotes social change for the community through education and intervention.
Early in the spring of 1977, Ruth Edwards from the district attorney's office and Linda Miller from Larimer County Mental Health (LCMH) met to discuss their frustration with the lack of services for battered women in Larimer County.They decided a task force would be necessary to address the problem.
They set up a meeting of representatives from different human service agencies with the goal of providing more inter-agency coordination and continuity of service provisions to battered women. The task force began by printing a card for police officers to hand to battered women advertising the group. Posters and radio campaigns also brought women to the group.
It was recognized early on that the primary need of battered women was a refuge for themselves and their children; a place where they could stay long enough to begin breaking the cycle of battering and start making some significant changes in their lives. Goals for the task force were established:
- to provide coordination of services among existing agencies that service victims of domestic violence;
- to provide referral information to domestic violence victims and to act as advocates for their interests;
- to disseminate information to the community about domestic violence;
- to maintain and operate a Safehouse facility, capable of providing emergency housing for battered women and their children.
In July of 1978, the task force conducted
a needs assessment of reported battering in the county. Data was collected
and the results were 180 women and 205 children served from December 1977
through June 1978.
In February 1979, a CDBG grant was written
to the City of Ft. Collins to open a shelter for battered women. The budget
was $67,000 for operating expenses. The city council also awarded the task
force $100,000 to purchase and renovate a facility for battered women and
their children.
In August 1979 the Battered Women's Task
Force was admitted as a first year United Way Agency for 1980. In January
of 1980, papers were signed to secure a safehouse facility.
In May 1980, renovation of the house started.
The Junior League furnished the four bedrooms, upstairs bathroom and the
office. Civitan painted the rooms on the main floor.
At the May 1980 meeting, the Board determined
that Crossroads would be the name of the new safehouse. The open
house was held on July 2.
In August 1980, the lease was signed with the City of Ft.
Collins. Crossroads opened its doors on August 12, 1980.
Within two hours, they welcomed thirteen residents who had been waiting
to enter the shelter. Channel 9 did an interview with the staff about the
opening.
In December 1980, Crossroads held its first
fundraising event. The Las Vegas Night fundraiser at the Northern Hotel
netted $2,500. The first annual Fabric of Legacies Quilt Fundraiser was
held in July 1982, netting $11,500.
In 1987, Crossroads Safehouse, with the help
of the City of Ft. Collins and another CDBG grant, added a facility that
doubled the sheltered capacity to eight family units. Crossroads continued
to offer many residential programs for the children, teens and women residing
at the Safehouse. In addition, Crossroads offered many outreach programs
to help in the battle to reduce domestic violence.
As the county population increased, the need for safe housing
for battered women and their children also increased. In 1995,
Crossroads Safehouse built an addition that increased the facility's capacity
to twelve family units. The addition also provided space for three administrative
offices.
The Fabric of Legacies promotion that started in 1982
has continued yearly in July. It consistently nets over $11,000
each year. The Board of Directors adds a number of varied fundraising events
to the schedule each year, including, among others, a golf tournament, the
Taste of Larimer County, and an annual membership drive.
Now, more than twenty years after the conception of Crossroads, we are able to offer a variety of services to the surrounding community. These services include: