By Elizabeth Klaus
Domestic Abuse Intervention Services
Aug. 1 marks the one-year anniversary of the opening of DAIS (Domestic Abuse Intervention Services) at its new home on Fordem Avenue. A dream many years in the making, this new facility represented many changes for DAIS, and the first year in their new space marked a new era for the organization.
“It’s our own special place to heal.”
On July 30, 2014, more than 400 people gathered at the ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new facility. It was a chance to celebrate the future of the organization with those who had fostered and supported the dream of a new home.
On Aug. 1, 2014, the new shelter officially opened its doors. After working in a cramped, worn environment, the staff was excited to face the opportunities and challenges of the new space. The shelter more than doubled the number of beds available from 25 in the old shelter to 56 in the new. In addition, shelter stays were lengthened from 30 days to 45 days. This extra time is critical to shelter residents who face many hurdles in finding safe and stable housing. This is a time of intense crisis in residents’ lives, and two more weeks in shelter provides more time to get on their feet and work toward their goals.
“This place changed my life forever for the best. Thank you.”
Opening the doors to DAIS’ new home also opened doors to many opportunities. DAIS staff and volunteers could finally begin to accomplish the program expansion plans that were only a dream for so long. Throughout the campaign to build a new facility, DAIS had seen an increased demand for their services and that has continued in the new building. In 2014 DAIS fielded more than 11,500 calls to the Helpline. To address the growing demand and expand programs, DAIS added 37 new staff members in 2014, more than doubling the staff from the previous year.
Central to DAIS’ expansion is the goal of seamless collaboration between programs in order to best meet the needs of survivors. Each year many DAIS clients utilize multiple services, and the new building meant that the organization was better equipped to facilitate collaboration and provide a comprehensive approach to client safety and empowerment.
In reflecting on the first year in the new building, DAIS staff member Diara Sturtevant-Williams recalled, “I remember the first time our Crisis Response and Legal Advocacy programs were able to coordinate on-site services for a client. It was a really amazing experience. It was great to finally have the capacity for multiple programs to more efficiently meet client needs within our own safe space.”
“I am a stronger person and can get through anything.”
The day the new DAIS facility opened, a client waited outside trying to work up the courage to go in. After 20 minutes, she left and went home. As soon as she got home, she realized that, if she wanted to make changes, she had to get help that day. She called the Helpline and got an appointment the same day. For many survivors of domestic violence in Dane County, transformation begins right here, in a beautiful new building on Madison’s Northside.