About Crossroads

Mission

Crossroads Safehouse shelters, supports, advocates for, and empowers all people so we can live free of domestic violence and interpersonal abuse.

Vision

A community free of domestic violence and interpersonal abuse.

Values - Statement on Social Justice

Crossroads Safehouse recognizes that many social injustices and iniquities play a role in the dynamics of domestic violence and intimate partner abuse, as well as in our society at large.

• Structural racism is prevalent throughout our institutions; this limits access that Black people, People of Color, and Indigenous people have to health care, housing, employment, education, healthy food, and other needs and opportunities.
• For Black people, institutional racism can even limit access to our most basic human right: life itself. This is shown by the numerous tragedies that led to the creation of the Black Lives Matter movement and the global demand for racial justice.
• Sexism, ableism, ageism, and other forms of discrimination are also systemic ills that hinder our collective push for a just and equitable society.

Domestic violence does not discriminate, and it is a pervasive issue worldwide. Anyone can be a victim of violence and abuse, regardless of race, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, ethnicity, immigration status, disability, socioeconomic status, or any other identifying factor. We also understand that some populations are more at risk, as seen in the #MeToo Movement.

We also know that intersectionalities of identity compound risk of violence. Domestic violence can be a form of gender-based violence and disproportionately affects women.

• At the same time, Black women, Indigenous women, Latinas, and other women of color experience domestic violence and intimate partner abuse at higher rates than white women.
• Trans women of color, and gender nonconforming individuals of color, higher still.
• We also know that men experiencing abuse face unique challenges based on societal norms of masculinity and often lack access to services responsive to their situation.
• Individuals in higher-risk populations often face additional barriers to seeking services and support when experiencing domestic violence or intimate partner abuse.
• It is important for service providers to acknowledge intersectional forms of oppression and violence and to take steps to decrease barriers to access in order to better serve our communities in an equitable and effective way.

Crossroads Safehouse shelters, supports, advocates for, and empowers all people so we can live free of domestic violence and interpersonal abuse. We strive to push this mission forward by prioritizing social justice in our programs and in our culture.

• We are whole-person centered and seek to meet people where they are.
• Core values of respect, empowerment, inclusivity, and safety inform not only our decisions for long-term growth but also our daily processes and routines.
• We celebrate diversity and seek to elevate the voices of disadvantaged groups in our advocacy, in our hiring, and in our leadership.
• We recognize as an agency we still have room for growth. We pledge to continue to challenge our existing systems and be accountable to one another and our communities in this mission.

Social justice efforts are numerous and interweave: racial justice, economic justice, housing justice, environmental and climate justice, gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant rights, disabled rights, and many more are all connected.

Crossroads Safehouse supports these efforts and works to promote equity within our organization, our field, and our community.