A local nonprofit that looks to aid victims of domestic violence is opening their new center this weekend.
The new Peace House Community Center is officially open after a year and a half of construction. This Saturday Peace House is inviting the community to their grand opening ceremony.
The ribbon cutting ceremony is at 9:00 am at 700 Round Valley Drive with breakfast being served after followed by tours of the new facility.
Peace House Board Member Karen Marriott notes that the previous shelter location had five bedrooms which could accommodate a maximum of 15 people.
“Our new facility has eight emergency shelter units; it can accommodate up to 24 people,” Marriott continued. “We have 12 transitional housing units which is totally new and really exciting for these families that have suffered abuse. Just to give them a little more time to get back on their feet and that can accommodate up to 36 people. So, we're really quadrupling our capacity. Last year we had 232 unmet requests for shelter. Those are people that we could give them outreach services, provide therapy, try to find them other shelters, but we could not keep up with the demand. It's pretty amazing, our statistic in Utah is one in three women will be a victim of domestic abuse."
Peace House also offers free services to victims of domestic abuse. Last year the organization offered 2,299 hours of free therapy and case management.
During the previous 25 years the shelter location for Peace House has been undisclosed. Marriott says part of the reason they are making their location public is to reduce and eliminate any sense of shame that victims may feel.
“Putting everything under one roof will make as much more efficient and effective, much more accessible,” Marriott explained. “Our tagline was out of the shadows and into the light. We are literally in the light; we are in this beautiful new building through the generosity of so many people. We are situated right between the Peoples Health Clinic, who is one of our community partners and Intermountain Park City hospital is one of our community partners. With modernization and security systems I mean it's a much safer place actually, even though it's out and people can find it. It's a safer place with all the different levels of security that we have for anybody to come in and get the help they need.”
More information about the event and organization can be found here.
