Longmont’s only domestic violence shelter, Safe Shelter at St Vrain Valley, is running out of money at the same time more people are turning to it for help.
The shelter says it needs to raise $295,000 by the end of the year to keep all of its services open. Beyond providing emergency shelter, the nonprofit also offers a 24/7 crisis hotline and outreach programming.
Boulder County Sheriff’s Office reports that about one in every five cases detectives are working on includes domestic violence charges. Longmont Public Safety says the city has historically seen some of the highest domestic violence reports in the county. While this could also be connected to a higher rate of reporting, Longmont Public Safety says advocacy work in the city makes reporting more accessible.
For Safe Shelter advisor Rhonda Crane, the shelter has been a place to help survivors for more than three decades…