Available Programs

In an effort to achieve their mission, FRIENDS provides the following services free of charge:

Emergency Shelter: Housing and support services are provided to aid individuals experiencing violence in their homes or relationships. Included with a safe environment, residents and their children receive food and personal care items. Although men cannot reside at the shelter, hotel vouchers and housing advocacy can be provided.

During shelter stay, advocacy is provided for employment search, household budgeting, obtaining and maintaining safe housing, navigating other community assistance programs such as W2, childcare, and Medicaid coverage. In addition, shelter residents receive one-to-one counseling, weekly support group opportunities, legal advocacy, assistance, and direct service representation from an on-site attorney, parenting assistance, and facilitated family unit activities to re-build trust and teach positive communication methods and conflict management.

24 Hour Crisis Intervention Phone Line: Trained staff is available to support individuals who need immediate help, or need information about options and resources available to them. Staff helps the caller assess their current level of safety, develop a safety plan if needed, and identify their next step for crisis resolution. Additional community resources and contact information is also provided.

Through education and public awareness the Emergency Shelter and Crisis Intervention Programs are designed to help victims reach their full potential in a non-violent environment and break the cycle of violence for future generations.

Counseling: Individual, supportive, and advocacy-based counseling is available for individuals who have experienced or are currently experiencing violence in their homes or relationships. Program Specialists and Crisis Counselors explore various methods for coping, provide emotional support, assist with safety planning, and provide additional information about other community resources.

Legal Assistance: Friends of Abused Families has an attorney on staff. For more information, please see the Legal Page.

Support Groups: Sexual assault, domestic violence, and children’s support groups are available weekly. Structured curriculums address building and maintaining self-esteem, healthy relationships, parenting, self-sufficiency, coping strategies, and safety planning.

Transitional Living Program: This program is available to shelter residents, it assists households in developing and maintaining a violent-free life-style. Participants sign a lease with the housing company, pay a portion of the monthly rent, and are responsible for all other household expenses. FRIENDS provides the balance of their monthly rent, weekly case management, assistance with life skills, guidance on budgeting and household management, one-to-one counseling, and weekly support groups.

Children’s Program: Available to children residing in or out of shelter. Provides individual and group art therapy, one-to-one counseling, family unit activities, assistance with parenting techniques and education, and age-appropriate safety planning. For more information, please see the Children's Program page.

Community Education: Staff present educational, preventive, and in-service trainings to youth and adult audiences throughout Washington County.