Our Mission
To promote healthy relationships free from violence as we strive to overcome imbalances through advocacy, collaboration, education, and shelter.
Our Values
Integrity, Compassion, Resiliency, Empowerment, Well-being
Our History
In 1986, a group of Garfield County concerned citizens joined together to respond to a growing awareness of domestic violence. As true today as it was then, they also noted a need for comprehensive services for domestic violence survivors and their children in Garfield County.
In the spring of 1987 we began our journey with:
- Incorporating as the Advocate Safehouse Project (ASP);
- Recruiting Volunteer Help Line Advocates;
- Launching a 24-Hour Help Line;
- Establishing volunteer safehomes; and
- Offering a free weekly women’s support group with child care;
As our journey continued through the years, we expanded our services to include survivors of sexual assault in 1991. And since 1996, all of our services have been offered in English and Spanish.
The need for physical space was first experienced in 1993 when we saw the increased need for longer than three-day stays in our volunteer safehomes for survivors. We raised enough funds to purchase and rehabilitate a facility to be used for a Safehouse Program. The second time was in 1999-2000 when we needed more space for staff and programming so we once again raised funds to add onto the Safehouse for our staff and programming.
Anyone who owns a home knows that there comes a time when your home needs some tender loving care. In 2008, after 14 years of use (598 families with 618 children for 17,821 nights of shelter) our Safehouse was in dire need of not only some tender loving care, but a “Facelift”. This work was necessary in order for us to correct some major structural problems in the building, provide easier maintenance of our Safehouse and to “freshen up” the interior. Our major goal was to make our Safehouse a “home” for our survivors to begin their healing process and we accomplished that.
In 2022 we had the distinction of celebrating our 35th Anniversary of providing services to survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence in Garfield County. We are the only program in Garfield County offering free, comprehensive and confidential services for survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence and their children. It should be noted that we are the only Safehouse Program in the Roaring Fork Valley and one of only eleven on Colorado’s western slope. Today, we are a strong organization and we are proud to be a part of the solution in our community.
Anti-Oppression Statement
Advocate Safehouse Project (ASP) recognizes survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence face discrimination and are victims of systemic oppression. ASP understands domestic violence and sexual assault as examples of how oppression plays out in day-to-day life. Violence, physical or verbal, against people or groups because of their gender, race, religion or sexual orientation is oppression. ASP values equity as an organization and is committed to working towards the common goal of justice for all – where no person or group is oppressed.
ASP Policies
The following policies may be applicable to survivors accessing services with us at Advocate Safehouse Project. If you have questions or concerns, please contact our Executive Director, Betty Lucas at 970.928.2071 or betty@advocatesafehouse.org.
Survivor Conflict Management Policy PDF
Notice of Client Rights, Non-Discrimination & Confidentiality PDF