Blue Water Safe Horizons Annual Report 2015-2016

Blue Water Safe Horizons www.bwsh.org

ANNUAL REPORT

2015 -2016

CONTENTS

1 – Message From Executive Director, Diane Baur 2 – Mission & Programs 3 – Programs, Continued 4 – Program Impact 4 – Valuable Community Partnerships 5 – STEPS Program 6 – Promoting Social Change 6 – Honoring Those That Make A Difference 7 – Client Testimonials 8 – Financial Management 9 – We Need Your Help 10 – Donor Acknowledgement

Message from Executive Director, Diane Baur

Dear Friends,

Fiscal year 2015-2016 was a demanding, yet rewarding year for Blue Water Safe Horizons. We experienced a reduction in public and governmental grants, which presented a financial challenge. The challenge was met by an increase in individual giving; however, we still fell short of our fundraising goal. Nonetheless, our dedicated staff did an incredible job at maintaining the services needed to help our community’s most vulnerable citizens; 1,138 people called our 24 hour crisis hotline, and 202 victims of domestic/intimate partner violence and their dependent children received emergency shelter at Carolyn’s Diane Baur, Executive Director Place. Pathway provided emergency shelter to 324 homeless adults Blue Water Safe Horizons and children. Additionally, 551 individuals in the St. Clair County area went from being homeless to moving into a positive housing situation. Of these, 70% moved into their own apartment or home, and the remaining 30% were permanently reunited with family and friends.

In July of 2016, our Board of Directors took action to initiate a process wherein our homeless services would be transitioned to another community agency. Blue Water Safe Horizons was founded as an agency to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Returning to our original mission will allow us to expand programs to include things such as children’s services and prevention. The process is currently underway with the goal of completion to be October 1, 2017. Many community leaders and stakeholders are involved as an alternate non-profit agency is being identified. We look forward to the future and optimizing our renewed focus to enhance our domestic violence and sexual assault services for our community.

I wish to express my gratitude to the Board of Directors for their leadership and vision for growth over the past year. Additionally, an immense thank you to all of our generous donors, businesses, community partners, and our incredibly dedicated staff and volunteers. Your collaborative spirit and the work you do each and every day make our community a better place to live.

Thank you! Diane Baur, LMSW

BOARD OFFICERS BOARD MEMBERS EXECUTIVE STAFF Laura Newsome Sue Barber Diane Baur Chair Elien Gaw Executive Director Michael Wendling Nigar Hussain Vice Chair Laurie Irwin Judy Gentry Jim Jones Gary Stoldt Finance Director Secretary Cecil Williams Pastor Michael Williams Lynn Wilhelm Treasurer Amy Zimmer

Mission

The mission of Blue Water Safe Horizons is to partner with the community to provide the resources, support and education necessary for every individual to become empowered and live a life free from domestic violence, sexual assault and homelessness.

Programs

Carolyn’s Place

Carolyn’s Place is a 26 bed facility which provides emergency shelter to women who are fleeing domestic violence and/or sexual assault, their dependent children, and women impacted by elder abuse and exploitation. The shelter offers survivors safety, support services, and links to community resources to assist them in obtaining self-sufficiency. Carolyn’s Place offers a crisis hotline that can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Last fiscal year, there were over 1,100 calls placed to the crisis hotline. A unique on-site support is the Dorothea Knight & Patricia Benedict Pet Sanctuary, which houses the companion animals of shelter residents. This allows survivors the comfort of knowing their animal is in a Areiky Whitmore, safe environment. Thanks to donations from the community, the pet shelter Carolyn’s Place is equipped with food, toys, and clean bedding for the animals. Shelter Manager

Outreach

The Outreach program provides numerous services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse and exploitation. Counseling services provide survivors with an opportunity to meet with the counselors individually as well as attend support group sessions facilitated by the counselors. Sexual Assault Advocacy offers support for survivors of sexual assault, bridging the gaps between systems and accessing available resources. Elder Abuse Advocacy is available to individuals over the age of 60 who feel they have been taken advantage of or abused in some way. The Elder Abuse Advocate helps clients obtain resources available to them based on their unique situation. Legal Advocacy provides assistance to Angela Wallace, clients with court related issues, including court accompaniment, filing for Outreach Program personal protection orders, accessing victim’s rights compensation, and Director offering emotional support.

Forensic Nurse Examiner Program (FNEP)

Turning Point’s Forensic Nurse Examiner Program (FNEP) continues to partner with the multidisciplinary team in St. Clair County to provide services to community residents. The program services include a medical forensic examination (within 120 hours of assault), medication for STI/HIV exposure, photo documentation of injuries, referrals/follow-up information and crisis intervention provided by staff from Blue Water Safe Horizons. In 2016, the program provided services to 43 patients (six of those being acute pediatric cases). Success is due to the collaborative effort with various law enforcement agencies, community hospitals, Office of the Prosecutor and Michigan State Police crime lab. The philosophy is to work toward ending Gail Lippert, FNEP Program the use of violence as a means of oppressing and controlling others, and Director endorses the concept of helping people assume power over their lives.

Housing Assessment Resource Agency (HARA)

HARA provides housing related services to homeless individuals and families and to at risk individuals experiencing eviction or utility shut offs. HARA implements 10 Housing programs through various government funded agencies such as the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS). Of the 10 programs HARA implements, 8 of those are considered Permanent Supportive Housing projects. In order to qualify, the individuals must be current residents of St. Clair County, literally homeless via street or shelter, and extremely low income.

Erica Grant, HARA Manager

Pathway

Homeless does not mean hopeless. Pathway is a 20 bed facility that services several hundred homeless men, women, and families each year. Pathway is the only shelter in St. Clair County that services homeless families. Aside from offering the basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter, Pathway staff help clients identify barriers, determine individual goals and then connects them to the appropriate community services in order to achieve self-sufficiency.

Bernard Evans, Pathway Shelter Manager

Program Impact

Blue Water Safe Horizons’ shelter and supportive services offer the safety and space for individuals to begin rebuilding their lives. From October 2015 through September 2016, Blue Water Safe Horizons impacted the lives of 981 men, women, and children!

Program Participants

300 269

250

200 184 158

150 125 Children 0-17 93 Adults 18+ 100 54 55 37

Number ofParticipants 50 6 0 Carolyn's Place Pathway Outreach HARA FNEP Programs

Valuable Community Partnerships

Blue Water Safe Horizons prides itself on developing lasting relationships with other community organizations that enhance our mission. These agencies provide much needed resources to our clients, which enable us to deliver more complete assistance to those in need. Here are just a few of our valuable community partners:

St. Clair County Community Mental Health Professional Counseling Center Department of Health & Human Services St. Vincent De Paul Interagency Service Team Salvation Army HARA Landlords Kids in Distress Comprehensive Youth Services Community First Health Centers Blue Water Center for Independent Living Council on Aging St. Clair County RESA Baker College St. Clair County Community College Grace Episcopal Church Mid-City Nutrition Port Huron Police Department St. Clair County Prosecutor’s Office Lake Huron Medical Center

STEPS

STEPS Affordable Housing, a subsidiary of Blue Water Safe Horizons, is a housing program designed to provide permanent, affordable, safe, and stable housing for survivors of domestic violence and their children. There are four designated STEPS homes located in the city of Port Huron, Michigan. In addition to housing, Blue Water Safe Horizons offers program participants outreach and supportive services, including safety planning, legal advocacy, individual and group counseling, and referrals to community resources.

STEPS is made possible by grant funding from the James C. Acheson Foundation and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. These indispensable relationships help us provide survivors with a safe and secure place to live, enabling them to move forward with their lives.

STEPS is governed by board of directors comprised of community leaders dedicated to providing safe and affordable housing for survivors and their children.

Board Chairperson Kathy Swantek Secretary Denise Foote Treasurer Melinda Johnson Directors Pastor Michael Williams Diane Baur

Promoting Social Change Encouraging social change begins with community awareness. Through various lectures and activities throughout the year, Blue Water Safe Horizons aimed to forge connections and increase public awareness of domestic/sexual violence and homelessness. The following represents a portion of the community outreach our agency organized and/or participated in this past fiscal year:

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) was first observed nationally in April of 2001. In 2016, Blue Water Safe Horizons organized various events to stimulate thought and conversation about sexual assault.  April1, Paint the Town – Participants took the day to “paint the town” in teal to raise awareness.  April 10, Poetry Night – Contributors were welcome to perform an original piece or one penned by another author at a local café.  April 12, SC4 Awareness Event – Hosted by St. Clair County Community College, featured numerous speakers and presentations on the subject of sexual assault.  April 23, Sexual Assault Awareness Walk – Taking place along the St. Clair River, people joined together for a walk in honor of SAAM.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) evolved from the "Day of Unity" held in October 1981. The Day of Unity soon became an entire week devoted to a range of activities conducted at the local, state, and national level. Blue Water Safe Horizons planned several community events:

 October 1, Take a Stand – Take a Stand is a call to action to bring national attention to the issue of domestic violence.  October 8, Yoga at Sunset – Held at a local park, Yoga at Sunset was an event to promote healing and relaxation while raising awareness about domestic violence.  October 17, Chalk It Up – Chalk It Up spread awareness by using sidewalk chalk to draw images, facts, and statistics. Honoring Those that Make a Difference Every year, Blue Water Safe Horizons recognizes those that have made an impact on our organization and community. Through staff nominations, the following recipients were honored for their contribution to our mission:

Employee of the Year: Christa Warner, Administrative Assistant Volunteer of the Year: Joe Grant Collaborative Agency of the Year: Mid-City Nutrition, Port Huron Ted Mentor of the Year: Karen Sherman Denomme

Client Testimonials

Carolyn’s Place

“I just want to thank Carolyn’s Place for being there when I needed them. I was afraid that there was no safe place for me to go. The staff was supportive, encouraging, and very helpful. You all took time to listen and even made me smile.”

“Carolyn’s Place has helped me turn my life around. My first stay here I wasn’t serious and went back to my abuser, but when it happened again and I had to return, I knew things had to change. The staff has helped me so much, encouraged me to see that I can do it. I want to show my kids a better life. The resources and programs have given me hope.”

Pathway

“The hope that they give you is everything.”

“I don’t wish this on any one but if it had to happen, this is the best place to be.”

HARA

“You don’t know how much you miss having a shower in your own place, until you have nothing at all. HARA worked with me for 3 months until we found a landlord that would rent to me, they never gave up, so I didn’t either.”

“I was lost in the system, and HARA helped me save my family. I had over a year of being homeless and my kids were in state care. When I finally got a place with HARA’s help, I was able to gain an income, and my children came home within a month of me signing my lease!”

Outreach

“I’m so grateful for the help she received from Blue Water Safe Horizons.”

“I’m not scared anymore.”

Financial Management

September 30 Temp. Total ASSETS 2016 2015 REVENUE AND SUPPORT Unrestricted Restricted 2016 Current Assets Public Support Cash $129,971 $77,939 United Way of St. Clair County $132,500 $132,500 Escrow cash-restricted 146,666 153,463 Salvation Army $93,631 93,631 Investments 53,327 48,934 Contributions 38,687 38,687 Grants and reimbursements receivable 135,066 239,719 Foundations 19,750 19,750 Prepaid expenses 51,214 46,039 Materials-in kind 6,678 6,678 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 516,244 566,094 Govermental Grants Property and Equipment Department of Human Services 29,175 29,175 Capital improvements 193,696 178,318 Domestic Violence & Treatment Bd. 268,500 268,500 Land 121,446 116,446 Emergency Food and Shelter Pgr 0 13,548 13,548 Building 745,511 823,644 Victims of Crime Act 73,309 73,309 Furniture and equipment 49,108 57,132 U.S. Department of Education 27,406 27,406 1,109,761 1,175,540 MSHDA 157,874 157,874 Less: accumulated depreciation 538,012 571,803 Department of Community Health 291,618 291,618 Net Property and Equipment 571,749 603,737 HUD 158,955 158,955 Other Assets-Endow ment fund 50,000 50,000 Other 29,801 29,801 $1,137,993 $1,219,831 903,766 437,666 1,341,432 LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS REVENUE AND GAINS Current Liabilities Interest income 12,082 12,082 Current portion of mortgage payable $21,733 $33,265 Rental income 16,745 16,745 Accounts payable 25,288 27,072 Loss on disposal of fixed assets (19,948) (19,948) Accrued payroll and w ithholdings 34,564 36,116 Unrealized gain(loss) on investment 3,338 3,338 Deferred Revenue 22,782 0 Fundraising 7,387 7,387 Total Current Liabilities 104,367 96,453 Miscellaneous 16,864 16,864 Long-Term Liabilities 36,468 36,468 Notes payable 450,000 450,000 Net Assets Released from Ops 437,666 (437,666) 0 Mortgage payable 0 0 TOTAL PUBLIC and SUPPORT 1,377,900 0 1,377,900 Total Liabilities 554,367 546,453 EXPENSES Net Assets Program Services 1,358,885 1,358,885 Unrestricted 533,626 623,378 Supporting Services 108,767 108,767 Designated 50,000 50,000 Total Expenses 1,467,652 1,467,652 Temporarily restricted 0 Change in Net Assets (89,752) 0 (89,752) Total Net Assets 583,626 673,378 Net Assets, Oct. 1 623,378 0 623,378 $1,137,993 $1,219,831 Net Assets, Sep 30 $533,626 $0 $533,626

We Need Your Help

We’ve helped many people over the last year, but there’s so much more that can be done. A crucial element to our success is the generosity of people like you. There’s many ways you can help carry out our mission: you could donate funds, a little bit of your time or talents, or much needed shelter items. Whatever your choice, your support will allow our organization to continue serving our community, enabling individuals to rise above the difficulties they face in order to succeed and thrive.

Every Penny Matters

You can donate monetarily by visiting our website, www.bwsh.org, or visiting our Facebook page. Click the “Donate” button; this will give you a direct link to our PayPal account. You can also call 810-989-5246, Ext. 308 and safely give by credit card.

Donations by mail can be sent to Blue Water Safe Horizons, P.O. Box 610247, Port Huron, MI 48061.

Volunteer and Help Make a Difference

Volunteer at Carolyn’s Place. Volunteer at Pathway. Volunteer with the Outreach Program. Volunteer in a different way: ______

Please visit our website www.bwsh.org to learn more, or call us at 810-989-5246. Send this form by mail to our office at P.O. Box 610247, Port Huron, MI 48061.

Name: ______Phone: ______Email: ______Address: ______

Thank You to All of Our Donors Our staff and board of directors wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who made donations to Blue Water Safe Horizons. Your commitment and ongoing support has helped touch the lives of those in our community impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and homelessness.

Individual Donors Anita Burr Mary Ann McLane $1,000 + Delores Caimi Edward Merrick Esther Brown William Cain James & Shirley Miglia Andrew & Marlene Gillis Michelle Carolan Susanne Miller Vivian J. Martin Dennis & Susan Casey Dennis Mitchell Franklin & Nancy Moore Colleen Constanineau Jenniofer Monaghan Michael O’Brien James Copping Laura Newsome Pamela Simons Susan Corby Nancy Nyitray Sheila Defauw Karen Pauly $999 - $500 Patricia Demeulenaere Jane Penzien Susan Graczyk Marjorie Dever Georgia Phelan Ralph Livingston Richard Dionne Carol Ann Piper Eugene & Gisela Norey Kimberly Dooley Denise Poosch Nancy Witherspoon Gary & Barbara Dummitt Alice Reed William Easton Leonard Rose $499 - $250 Diane Ehret Anne Rowling Sue Barber Kathryn Elzey Rosella Ruso John & Sara Cummings Susan Ferlito Karen Schoonover George Lange Eileen Furman John Simmonds Mary Langolf William Forster Patricia Simons Barbara Naruta Santo Gaglio Linda Slaughter Amy Robinson Elien Gaw Janet Smade Kent Schenk Debra Gibbons Donna Smith James Scohy Stewart Glenn Jenella Smith James Sperling Maryann Gostomski Tracy Stablein-Brooks Linda Askar Stoldt Sharon Gramzow Laura Stahl Gary Stoldt Kimberly Hartman Janet Stewart Edith Stone Howard Heidemann Kenneth Stommel Donald Weitzel Thelma Henderson Linda Thibodeau Quinnith Wilkins Carol Henry Linda Tokarski Janet Herbert Diane Tomiuk Additional Contributors Linda Hija L. Ann Troy Natalie Adair Rose Howard Marie True Amy Anderson-Lyons Nigar Hussain Elizabeth Visger Kathryn Baker Marie Hussein Carol Waldecker Dr. Douglas Baribeau Donald & Claudia Insalaco Brian Washburn Keely Baribeau Laurie Irwin Lucy Wayco Amy Baur Moira Isaacson Anne Welch Robert Beauchamp Sandi Jablonski Joanne Wesch Ann Beck William Johnson Lauri Wessel Violet Betrus Jim Jones Susan Westrick Linda Bhesania Michael Kettlewell Alysia White Ruth Ann Bier Charles Koob Mary Wight Barb Blash Shirley Kudzia Lynn Wilhelm Linda Blash Cynthia Lane James Wilson Barbara Bodeis Sara Liter-Kuester Janet Wiltshire Michael Bodeis Randy & Beverly Maiers Mary Witliff Stephen Bonney Lynda Maroney Sharon Wolak Julie Boutt Jennifer Graves McClelland Shelia Wolak Susan Bryson Laura McDowell Kathleen Worden Gayle Bumler Brooke McElroy Craig Young

Corporations Faith-Based Organizations Service/Membership Clubs Barss, Inc. Blue Water Free Methodist Church Athena Club City of Port Huron Colonial Woods Missionary Church Blue Water Women’s League Eastern Michigan Bank – Croswell Faith Christian Community Church F.O.E., Ladies Auxiliary #2784 Family Eye Care & Contact Lens Ctr. Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church Harsens Island Garden Club HSC Enterprises, Inc. Jeddo United Methodist Women Harsens Island Lioness Club Jeddo Party Store, Inc. Marysville United Methodist Women Marine City Rotary Club Karlaney, LLC Memphis/Lamb UMW Group Marysville Knights of Columbus Koppinger & Associates Ruby United Methodist Church Marysville Lions Club Law Offices of Steven Heisler St. John’s United Church of Christ Port Huron Lodge No. 58 Macomb-St. Clair Michigan Works St. Mary’s Church Port Huron Yacht Club Moran Chevrolet St. Matthew United Church of Christ Smiths Creek Masonic Lodge, #491F Plain Jane Fine Interiors, LLC St. Paul’s Episcopal Church South Park Lions Club Port Huron Tennis House St. Paul Lutheran Church Women Women’s Life #812 Quartermaster Shop, Ltd. St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Women’s Life Insurance Society Real Estate One, Westrick Associates Trinity United Methodist Women Women’s Life Review Robinson Industries Unity Church of Blue Water St. Clair DTE Power Plant Superior Heating & Cooling Talmer Bank & Trust

Grantor Recognition Foundations Commission on Aging James C. Acheson Foundation Community Foundation of St. Clair County Kresge Foundation Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness PepsiCo Foundation Michigan Dept. of Community Health Pfizer Foundation Michigan Dept. of Education Reitz Family Foundation Michigan State Housing Development Authority Michigan Dept. of Health & Human Services The Salvation Army United Way of St. Clair County U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development

Blue Water Safe Horizons NON-PROFIT ORG. P.O. BOX 610247 U.S. POSTAGE Port Huron, MI 48061 PAID PORT HURON, MI 48060 PERMIT #1143

Blue Water Safe Horizons

ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016

Connect With Us! (810) 989-5246 www.bwsh.org

A portion of our service provision is supported by Grant No. 2015-VA-GX-0044, awarded to Blue Water Safe Horizons by the Michigan Crime Victim Services Commission. The agreement award of $123,691 (80% of the project) comes from the Federal Crime Victims Fund, established by the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 administered by the Office of Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Blue Water Safe Horizons provides the required match valued at $30,923, by the use of volunteers (405 volunteer hours) or the St. Clair County Commission on Aging. (FY 2017)