NEWS - Domestic Violence & Sexual Abuse Services

Your Donation Impacts Generations to Come

24/7 HELP LINE 707.255.NEWS (6397)

These past couple of months have been incredibly busy here at NEWS. Domestic violence and sexual assault related Help Line calls have gone up more than 50% in the last fiscal year and numbers are surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The economic stress, lack of mental health resources, and few housing options only compound the layers of services needed to keep people safe.

We are great at screening, evaluating, and prioritizing levels of need and danger, but we need more staff and more funding to meet these needs. It can be overwhelming to choose the most effective action you can take to help. We ask that you consider donating to NEWS. We serve thousands of individuals, including children, at the intersection of safety, economic self-sufficiency, housing, mental health, and prevention.

The services people receive are life changing—and lifesaving—impacting generations to come.

I wish you a joyful holiday season to you and your family,

Tracy Lamb, NEWS Executive Director

Join us this month as we explore one client’s journey with NEWS. We’ll explore the various challenges she faced and the services and support NEWS provided to get her and her family into a violence-free home. Please note: as this is a real client story, the name of the client has been changed and small details have been altered to protect the client’s privacy.

Chapter 2: Isolation Destroys Support Systems but NEWS Builds Them Back Up

Isolation from friends and family is another common occurrence for those experiencing domestic violence, and Olivia’s was no different. Olivia found herself lacking any support system. Fortunately, her sister knew about NEWS and referred her to our services. Olivia wasted no time connecting with our Court Advocates who successfully helped her through the court system to obtain a restraining order against her partner. She gained referrals to mental health therapy for herself and her children, and attended NEWS Support Groups to help her heal from the abuse.

During all this, Olivia received notice from her landlord that she was to vacate the property – as her abuser was good friends with the landlord. NEWS Housing and Self-Sufficiency Advocates not only helped pay Olivia’s rent, but they facilitated a consultation with Napa Valley Fair Housing. As a result, the landlord was required to give Olivia a 60-day notice to vacate. Olivia felt a sense of relief with the extra time, but a sense of urgency loomed as well. It was time to get busy house hunting. Despite our most valiant efforts, NEWS Housing Advocates could not secure a new unit for her in the slim market of Napa within the time frame. It was now time for Olivia to move into the NEWS Confidential Shelter with her five children.

This is the second of five chapters of Olivia’s story. Come back next week to read about Olivia’s experience at the Shelter. Commit to ending domestic violence and sexual abuse in our community by donating at www.NapaNEWS.org and click GIVE.

If you are experiencing abuse or would just like some information, please call our help line, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take a Tour of the NEWS Office!

What's a day like at the NEWS Admin Office? Check out this video to hear from our advocates about their work!

THANKFUL FOR OUR SUPPORTERS!
The Annie and Richard Bennett Fund of the Napa Valley Community Foundation | Benevity | California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services | California Office of the Small Business Advocate | California Partnership to End Domestic Violence | City of Napa | City of Napa Police Department | Community Projects, Inc. | Drysdale Community Foundation | F&M Bank | First Dollar Foundation | Golden Rule Family Foundation | HCA Foundation | The Jule Grant Fund of the Napa Valley Community Foundation | Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Programs | The Napa Fund of the Napa Valley Community Foundation | Napa Valley’s CanDo Give!Guide | Napa County | Napa Valley Vintners | Mental Health Services Act in Napa County | M.S. Grumbacher Foundation | Odyssey Group Foundation | Opus One | The Peter A. & Vernice H. Gasser Foundation | Pinpoint Foundation | Phelps Foundation | Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center | Redwood Credit Union | The Silverado Farming One Percent Fund of the Napa Valley Community Foundation | Soroptimist International Chapters of American Canyon, Calistoga, and St. Helena | Syar Foundation | Vollmer Family Foundation | Winiarski Foundation | Women’s Foundation California | United Way Bay Area

To learn how you can become a NEWS Community Champion sponsor, check out our website HERE!