A New Haven for Abused Women

After 20 years of planning, hoping and working, Haven Hills Inc., an agency serving victims of domestic violence in the San Fernando Valley, officially opened the doors Monday to its new transitional housing and employment program for battered women and their children.

Haven Two, which offers low-cost housing, job counseling and will eventually offer day care, was once an earthquake-damaged apartment building. And like the building, the women were once battered and torn but are hoping to make a new start in life.

“We’re here to help women create a self-sufficiency plan,” said Betty Fisher, executive director of Haven Hills. The resident “is able to start to visualize where she wants to go from here.”

One woman recently moved into the building with her three children after a 45-day stay at another shelter. Before coming to Haven Two, she had contemplated returning to her abusive husband.

“If I didn’t have a place to go, I probably would have gone back home,” she said, “or lived in a car.”

Haven Hills began filling the building’s 26 apartments at the end of January. Unlike most other shelters, which house women for a month or two, families at Haven Two have 18 months to find jobs, gain skills and get counseling.

Councilwoman Laura Chick, a longtime supporter of Haven Hills, which has another, smaller facility in Canoga Park, said the program takes a “common sense” approach to helping families by giving them time to start over.

The $2.5-million reconstruction, which began in March 1996, was paid primarily with Los Angeles Housing Department earthquake funds.

Officials said many residents have found jobs or plan to return to school to earn a degree. Meanwhile, the building--painted white with bright, multicolored trim--serves as a resting place for weary families.

“The first time they saw it, their eyes lit up,” said one mother of her children. “They kept saying, ‘Oh Mommy, you did good.’ That felt really good to hear.”

For more information about Haven Hills services, call the Crisis Hotline, (818) 887-6589.