Help Lead the Way

Dear Friend,

Your support is more critical than ever this year as we open the doors to our new forever home on Tooley Road in Howell.

Our community—once again—has reason to be proud as LACASA reimagines and redefines what awaits victims once they make the brave decision to escape violence and seek the help they need to protect themselves and their children. 

LACASA’s innovative, one-of-a-kind forever home is designed to foster self-worth, self-respect, and self-empowerment for victims of abuse. This modern, spacious, light-filled environment provides a welcoming, comforting, and dignified setting for victims and their families.

Severe Overcrowding

It is no secret to those of you who’ve visited our Grand River Avenue facility that we were bursting at the seams. While our entire organization grappled with space challenges, our primary concern was keeping victims safe when our shelter was full. 

Our 21-bed Crisis Shelter routinely reached capacity. When it did, we arranged secure off-site hoteling for victims until space opened up in our shelter. Providing off-site housing dramatically increased our expenses. This year alone, we spent more than $50,000 providing safe, off-site hoteling and three meals a day for victims and their children.

LACASA’s new Crisis Shelter is designed to accommodate 56 residents, which more than doubles our bed capacity. It also addresses the overcrowding issue in our shelter bedrooms. Unlike the previous shelter, which housed three people to a room and required six people to share a bathroom, the new shelter features self-contained studio rooms with private baths.

The more we learn about trauma, the more we understand that thrusting people into crowded living situations that lack privacy creates more trauma. That’s why we painstakingly planned the design of our forever home. 

Leading the Way

It is because of dedicated supporters like you that LACASA is able to spearhead bold innovations that help empower victims and their families as they rebuild their lives.

LACASA continues to be an organization of “firsts”: 

• We are the only agency of our kind in the state—and one of just a few in the nation—that provides comprehensive, wrap-around services under one roof for all victims of abuse
• We were the first in Michigan to protect victims’ pets from abusers by creating a Safe Pet Place in our Crisis Shelter
• We also were the first to adopt a court advocacy dog who serves as a supportive companion for child abuse victims who must testify during legal proceedings.

Each year, more than 5,000 victims and survivors walk through our doors as they overcome trauma and rewrite their life stories. Because of you, their journey will start in a truly healing setting that honors their bravery and courage. 

Be a champion for the most vulnerable among us by making a generous donation this season. Please give from your heart and help lead the way as we work together to empower victims and survivors from our community.

With gratitude,