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The following supportive services are offered to survivors of domestic violence:
Emergency Safe House
Legal Advocacy
Legal Referral
Support Groups
Transitional Living Program
Emergency Safe House
The Haven of RCS offers an emergency safe house when your own home is unsafe. You and your children can stay at our emergency safe house for as little as a few hours to as long as 45 days. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are not safe, please call our emergency hotline at any time at (727) 442-4128.
The following services are provided for you and your children during your stay:
- Counseling: individual & group counseling by Haven of RCS staff
- Food
- Referrals to assist with new housing, employment, childcare, and other services
- Support Groups
- Mobile Medical Assistance to assist survivors that do not have insurance or are not receiving Medicaid.
- Children's Program: individual and group counseling; play therapy, referrals to childcare
- Community Voice Mail - provides them with a phone number and access code that they can give out if they are job hunting or house hunting and be able to retrieve their messages from anywhere at anytime
- Bus Passes - are given to residents (when available) to go to work, look for housing, go to appointments.
- Information on Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF)
- Mental health referrals for assistance
- Gift certificate the RCS Thrift Store assisting survivors in the purchase of clothing and household items
- Pinellas County Schools tutoring program for school age children
Legal Advocacy
Our staff and volunteers assist survivors in filing paperwork for temporary injunctions for protection (aka restraining orders), assist survivors at injunction hearings, explain court processes, and provide support as requested.
Our staff is also available at the State Attorney's Office to explain the process and options available to both misdemeanor and felony victims of domestic violence. At the office survivors are provided information, referrals, advocacy and continued support.
When possible, our staff or volunteers may accompany survivors to divorce, child custody and child support enforcement hearings.
Legal Referral
Our program will assist survivors in obtaining legal advice and pertinent legal information from licensed professionals.
For any of the above services, please contact our Outreach Office - (727) 441-2029
Support Groups
The Haven of RCS offers several support groups throughout North Pinellas County. They provide education and support to women and their children affected by domestic violence. We provide a Spanish-Speaking group as well as several children’s groups.
Transitional Living Program (TLP)
The Haven Transitional Living Program (TLP) provides the following services:
(a) supportive housing and services for victims of domestic violence to facilitate their transition from living in an unsafe home to independent living
(b) emotional support necessary to break the bonds of an abusive relationship and to help children recover from the traumatic experience of the violence
(c) information and referrals to families displaced as a result of domestic violence enabling them to secure needed outside supportive services
(d) encouragement to improve job skills and employability through education and training referrals and supportive services on-site
(e) on-site life skills classes and support groups to facilitate the securing of permanent housing, guidance for stopping the cycle of violence and encouragement of working through ongoing issues.
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