[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 140 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2011-E2012]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNITION OF ``A SAFE PLACE'' FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RONALD V. DELLUMS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 9, 1997

  Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with gratitude and admiration 
to acknowledge A Safe Place which will be honored on Saturday, October 
11, 1997 for its dedication, service, and tireless commitment to the 
bay area community.
  A Safe Place provides crucial supportive and transitional services to 
battered women and their children. The mission of this organization is 
to decrease the number of battered women and educate the community on 
the issue of domestic violence. This extraordinary organization also 
provides personal support and attention to battered women, assisting 
them in becoming self-sufficient and providing skills to develop 
positive self images which in my opinion, is crucial in breaking the 
cycle of violence. I cannot emphasize enough the value of these 
services to our community. All those who have tirelessly cared, and 
passionately struggled to create this organization and expand its 
resources must be commended.
  In 1976, a small group of women working in a shelter in San 
Francisco, La Casa de las Madres, began a shelter in the East Bay. Soon 
after, they began providing referral services and crisis counseling 
from a small office in Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Oakland run solely 
by volunteers. The initial, attentive activist focused on the needs of 
the community, and created the basis for a holistic and nurturing 
environment for women and children, and a community outreach violence 
prevention program.
  With this objective as the foundation for A Safe Place, the L.C. and 
Mary J. Scaggs Foundation provided a grant in 1978 which made it 
possible to fund three half-time positions. Over time, with grants, 
corporate contributions, and individual donations, the staff was 
expanded.
  In December of 1980, A Safe Place was forced to find new facilities, 
or shut down completely. With the help of the media, the organization 
received a $100,000 anonymous donation and a $75,000 interest-free 
loan, which enabled them to purchase a house to be used as their new 
permanent facility. In March of 1981, the doors were opened and the 
house

[[Page E2012]]

welcomed 20 women and their children. The resolution of this crisis 
situation illustrated not only the dedication of the staff and 
volunteers of A Safe Place, but also the value and appreciation that 
the bay area community had for its services.
  That was over 15 years ago. Since then, countless women have 
benefited from the care and dedication of this organization. Those who 
have entered A Safe Place receive much more than shelter, they 
experience physical, emotional and spiritual comfort and support which 
empowers them to begin a new way of life. In my opinion, the entire 
community reaps the benefits from the seeds planted and sown by A Safe 
Place which through its educational focus attacks domestic violence at 
its source and establish new patterns of productive living.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to salute A Safe Place and the role it has 
played in creating a safer, healthier, and more peaceful bay area 
community. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking 
this organization for its invaluable service.

                          ____________________