“Building communities free of domestic violence and sexual assault.”
This is the mission of Ann Arbor-based SafeHouse Center, which not only provides safety, support, advocacy, and resources for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and their children, but also works
relentlessly to change the systems and attitudes that allow this abuse to continue.
The U.S. statistics that SafeHouse publishes on its website are shocking:
- One in three teens reports knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, slapped, choked, or physically hurt by his or her partner.
- Violence against women costs U.S. companies $72.8 million annually due to lost productivity.
- Seven in ten rape and sexual assault victims know their attacker prior to the assault.
- Almost 5.3 million instances of victimization by intimate partners occur yearly among women 18 and older.
- Around the world, one out of three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused during their lifetimes.
In response to this stark reality, SafeHouse Center provides free and confidential services for any person – straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender – living or working in Washtenaw County who has been victimized by domestic violence or sexual assault. The critical services it offers include emergency shelter for those in danger of being hurt or killed, counseling, legal advocacy, and support groups.
Many Zausmer attorneys donate pro bono services and representation to the organization and the people it seeks to help. In addition, on June 10th our attorneys and professional staff went “Casual for a Cause” in support of SafeHouse Center’s ongoing efforts. Amy Applin, Cameron Getto, Dan McCarthy, Devin Sullivan, and Dan Webber championed our campaign, with each matching their own contributions against donations collected from other employees at the firm.
Each year, SafeHouse Center helps more than 5,000 survivors and their children find healing, support, and hope. Click here to learn about the ways you can help.
Zausmer
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