THOMASVILLE- Thomasville City council members took a step forward for domestic violence survivors on Monday evening, approving a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application on behalf of Halcyon Home for the construction of a new family violence shelter. 

Executive Director of Halcyon Home Jennifer Green addressed the council on the need for the shelter, explaining Halcyon Home’s current structure was no longer fitting the needs of its residents. 

Halcyon Home is a domestic violence shelter for women fleeing domestic violence situations, who are unable to return home. 

“Our current shelter is 120 years old and is outdated and doesn’t meet the current code or the needs of women and children we serve,” Green said. “We don’t have adequate meeting areas or bathrooms.” 

Seeing all the refurbishments needed, Green began to seek fundraising opportunities, such as the Tea for Hope earlier in 2023, when one of her longest-standing board members suggested looking into the CDBG to find out if Halcyon Home would qualify. 

After learning the nonprofit was a candidate, if funneled through the proper channels, Green got to work on showcasing the massive need in Thomasville and Thomas County for a larger shelter. 

“From 2008-2024, we’ve provided 135,642 services to women and children of domestic violence and served 13,641 victims in the shelter and 3,173 outside of the shelter,” Green said. 

While there is clearly a need, Halcyon Home is not able to build a new shelter on its own. 

“We are primarily funded through federal grants, but they don’t allow the acquisition of land or property,” Green said. “The current property we own is paid for, so our hope is that if we’re allowed to get this grant, we would use the funds from the sale of that building to match the funds from the grant or pay a mortgage on the new building, so we don’t carry over any debt.” 

Green explained she has thought through the process, and a new shelter is the only way for Halcyon Home to grow. The current building is already three stories, so it cannot be extended upward, and cannot be built back or on the sides, because the building is on .4 acres. 

“We have to turn away women who have to walk upstairs or have any disabilities,” she said. “It’s not ADA compliant; there is nothing we can do to remain in the current facility.” 

Councilman Terry Scott commended Green for the job she and her team are doing, despite the hurdles inside the facility. 

Fellow council members echoed Scott’s sentiment but had additional questions about the future space and what Green envisioned as far as the living quarters. 

Mayor Todd Mobley asked if Green and her team’s office would be inside the new living space or at a separate location. 

Currently, Green and her co-workers work inside Halcyon Home, but her hope would be to separate the space into two distinct quarters, so women and children do not feel as if someone is in “their space.” 

“The state requires 24-hour coverage, so in order to not have two light and other utility bills, we are a part of the shelter,” Green explained. “In the new shelter, we do hope to have a clear division, with one staff member who mans the camera on the residential side.” 

Green shared that she has toured several shelter locations that operate this way and feels confident in that change. 

She also shared she recently toured Moultrie’s new domestic violence facility, which had three apartment-style buildings, for families with cultural issues and men fleeing domestic violence. Green said she has yet to decide if this is something she would want to incorporate in her building space, as it would all come down to funding. 

Councilmembers did question how long individuals usually stay. 

Green explained the stay is supposed to be 30 days, but if the women are working their program, have found a job, and are actively looking for housing, they can stay longer. However, if the women have brought drama or additional issues into the home, they are asked to leave at exactly 30 days. 

With many women coming from out of town, due to fear of being located in their community by their abuser, 30 days can often be too short to secure a job and find appropriate housing. Green said for those women, the average stay is 90 days. 

With all questions answered and a better understanding of the need and length of stay, council members approved the CDBG application on behalf of Halcyon Home.