CHS History
1973
Center for Hope & Safety (CHS), formerly known as Mid-Valley Women’s Crisis Service, has supported victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking since 1973. Community volunteers organized a rape crisis line at 503-399-7722 to serve Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties. The first year of operation CHS received 112 calls. Now, our crisis line receives tens of thousands of calls a year.
1977
After a few years of operation, CHS’ first paid staff members were hired in 1977. They began a support group for women who had been abused. There was such a need in the community that a second group was added, then a third group facilitated in Spanish, and a fourth focusing on supporting survivors of sexual assault.
1978
The first emergency shelter, confidential shelter was opened in 1977, but closed shortly after opening. The next year, Winston House shelter was opened to house survivors and their children - named in honor of a woman who was murdered in our community. A total of 15,887 adults and children lived at Winston House in the time it was operating.
1990s
CHS kept busy in the ‘90s when The Vietta Helmle Transition House for Women opened in 1994. Named after one of our founders and long-term Executive Director, CHS offered longer term housing supports.
Throughout the 1990s, CHS assisted community members in Polk and Yahmhill Counties in establishing the SABLE House and Henderson House programs.
In addition, the crisis line became bilingual offering crisis intervention and referrals in Spanish 24-hours a day.
2000
A website was launchedthat offered all our written materials in various languages. Within 2 years, the website was averaging more than 20,000 visits a month and was listed as a link on several state and national websites.
2010
In 2010, CHS received 1.7 FTE positions and two CoLocated advocates were hired to work within the Child Welfare and Self-Sufficiency offices in Marion County. In 2014, a bilingual CoLocated advocate began working within Child Welfare and we were asked to provide a part-time position in Polk County. We continue to partner with the Oregon Department of Human Services to allow for confidential advocacy within these offices.
2013
In 2013, after launching a successful capital campaign, our dream of a new Advocacy Office became a reality. Located at 605 Center St, this office is nearly 4x the office space as the former at 795 Winter St NE. This new space was paid off is less than 2 years. Moving to this space has allowed for expanded services and greater access to those we serve. Along with the new office, we officially adopted a new identity: The Center for Hope & Safety.
2015
CHS purchased the former Greyhound Building (444-460 Church St NE) adjacent to the Advocacy Office. In just over 2 years, the $650,000 loan was paid off.
2017
CHS began a ‘quiet’ campaign to raise funds to open a new shelter to provide separate spaces for survivors with children and those without children. In a little over a year, the funds were raised and two shelter homes were purchased. In May 2017, the Winston House shelter was retired, and the new shelters began operating full-time. A few years later, Safe Paws onsite kennel was built allowing survivors to safely bring their pets with them to shelter.
2019
Demolition of the former Greyhound Building commenced with a ceremony led by then Governor Kate Brown. Funds began to be raised to build HOPE Plaza. A dream that started as a sticky note on former Executive Director Jayne Downing’s door. She would list the vital needs of survivors in our community - housing, partnerships, job training, employment, etc.
2020
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic shift in how our programs provided services in our community. Bringing its own barriers unique to survivors and we worked hard to meet the needs of those impacts by sheltering in place with their abusers. We continued to provide safe shelter through motel rooms, spending up to $10,000 a month during the pandemic, to meet the needs of victims and their families.
2021
CHS was awarded a Project Turnkey grant by the State of Oregon to purchase a motel to convert into an emergency shelter space. CHS named the project Mosaic. At Mosaic, survivors and their children are offered case management and support towards self-sufficiency. Mosaic provided more than 12,000 nights of shelter annually to survivors in need.
2021
In addition to Mosaic, CHS opened its first satellite office in northern Marion County. The Woodburn Office is available to support survivors by appointment and hosts support group led in Spanish by CHS advocates.
