Fort Wayne’s First Short-Term Crisis Home

We’re building a place of love, safety, and faith in our community.

Abie’s Haven is more than a shelter

There’s an unmet need in survivor support.

Between rescue and placement in long-term residential care, many women struggle to find a safe place to land—often ultimately relapsing into abuse due to extreme fear and relentless pursuit from abusers.

While resources for women escaping violence do exist, there are several things that will set our safe house apart. Abie’s Haven will be in an undisclosed location, a truly secret and safe place women and their children can go as they figure out the next step in their journey. We’ll support them as they go to crucial medical and counseling appointments, engage in group therapy, and find their path to a long-term solution.

We witnessed this ongoing trauma firsthand when we helped a young woman named Abie, who unfortunately had to continue living in fear despite being rescued because she had no safe place to stay while awaiting long-term placement. She traveled from place to place, terrified, until she could be safely transported abroad for long-term care.

We can’t let this keep happening to the women in our community.

Abie’s Haven will provide exclusive placement for survivors and kiddos of domestic and sexual violence.

This means:

  • It’s available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week

  • It will have family rooms for moms and kids

  • It will be in an undisclosed location

  • It will be fully staffed with a security team, a house manager, and other supports

  • It will provide access to counseling services, group therapy, and case management

  • Women will receive advocacy and support to court hearings

  • It will be completely free.

 FAQs about Abie’s Haven

  • There’s only one crisis shelter in Fort Wayne currently. Because it receives government funding, it must accept individuals beyond survivors of domestic violence, and it can’t hold phones or medicines.

    This causes issues for the women we serve for several reasons.

    First, because they still have access to their phones, abusers just call on various non-disclosed numbers, causing women to stay in flight, fight, freeze mode, and often react impulsively.

    And because many survivors don’t have addictions and have never experienced homelessness before, the culture shock from these shelters for them and their children can be extreme, adding to their trauma in an already hard time.

    Abie’s Haven will specialize in the care of survivors of domestic and sexual violence, focused on empowering them and providing them with holistic supports without government funding.

  • Women and their children will receive comprehensive, holistic therapy that addresses their mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Each survivor will receive individual counseling, wellness assessments, case management, and help finding long-term residential placement.

  • Our home is named after Abie. She was the first woman we rescued, and we learned so much from helping her.

    We experienced that she continued to live in fear for weeks after being rescued, too afraid to go home because her abusers continued to look for her. She jumped from place to place in order to feel safe and remain hidden. Abie eventually traveled abroad for long-term care, where she could heal and feel safe.

    God has a plan and purpose for Abie.

    When Abie was asked for permission to name our home after her, she was stunned. Her hand rested on her heart, and the gratitude radiated. Abie decided on the name “Abie’s Haven” and had a special light in her eyes when we told her the impact her story would have.

  • There are a few distinct ways you can help out:

    Donate financially. Over the next year, we need to raise significant funds. This will cover the cost of purchasing and renovating a home, installing robust security measures, and staffing and operational fees to support our women safely. You can donate here.

    Furnish our home. We have an Amazon wish list with items we’ll need for the home. We’d be so grateful if you’d consider purchasing items off the list, or if you know anyone who would be willing to donate home goods, we’d love to speak with them.

    Attend an event. We have several incredible events planned for 2024, and the money raised at each of them will go toward Abie’s Haven. Follow us on social media to stay up to date with what’s coming.

    Pray. We know without a doubt God is calling us to this next step. We know He will provide the means to make this happen. We’d love your prayers.

Get involved

There are a few ways you can help

Donate Financially

Over the next year, we need to raise significant funds. This will cover the cost of purchasing and renovating a home, installing robust security measures, and staffing and operational fees to support our women safely. You can donate here.

Furnish our home

We have an Amazon wish list with items we’ll need for the home. We’d be so grateful if you’d consider purchasing items off the list, or if you know anyone who would be willing to donate home goods, we’d love to speak with them. 

Attend or sponsor an event.

We have several incredible events planned for 2024, and the money raised at each of them will go toward Abie’s Haven. Follow us on social media to stay up to date with what’s coming. 

Pray

We know without a doubt God is calling us to this next step. We know He will provide the means to make this happen. We’d love your prayers. 

Help us reach our goal!

Did you know?

Indiana only has 51 domestic violence crisis shelters and an estimated 1.1 million domestic violence victims. Many victims experience insecure or unsafe housing, often seeking shelter with friends or family.

The need to provide a space for women to feel safe, loved, and supported as they take their next steps is urgent.

“When I was in a DV relationship, it eventually became very dangerous for my son and me to stay with my husband. Luckily, I had a safe family I could run to.  Many survivors don’t.  Since starting JH, I have dreamed of having a safe place for women and their children to go when they are in a situation like mine—a place where they would instantly feel safe and feel at home while trying to map out their new life.”

— Brittany, DV Survivor and JH Leader