For 30 years, My Sister's Place has provided sanctuary to battered women and their children via our twenty-two bed emergency shelter and residential supportive services. Yet each year in the District of Columbia, the incidence of domestic violence increases and an estimated 548 families find no refuge from violence due to lack of safe shelter.

In light of the ever increasing number of indigent, homeless battered women and their children and the significant danger posed by this pressing public health issue, My Sister's Place is expanding the number of shelter beds available in the District. Our expanded and renovated shelter facility will feature forty-five beds exclusively for battered women and their children. Additionally, the 9,000 square foot facility will provide victims of domestic violence with enlarged common areas and a library and resource room.

To date, we have successfully raised in excess of $3.1 million dollars in funds from foundations, corporations, government agencies, and individual donors who are committed to increasing our capacity to provide sanctuary for families in crisis. In the fall of 2007, we secured a commitment from the District of Columbia's Office of Victim's Services to fund the operating cost of the expanded residential services program once construction is completed. In fall 2008, the families resident in the current emergency shelter were relocated to a temporary facility and we will celebrate the groundbreaking of our renovated and expanded emergency shelter.

Our new emergency shelter will be a safe sanctuary for women and children fleeing life-threatening abuse. The new facility will:

• Increase the number of beds from twenty-two to forty-five.
• Add activity rooms large enough for meetings and exercise.
• Add a resource library and computer alcoves for homework and job searching.
• Offer private space for holistic case management services.
• Provide a children's play therapy center and an outdoor playground.