For more than 25 years women have organized to fight domestic violence and today, nationwide, over fifteen hundred shelters and safe homes provide refuge to battered women and their children. For more than 25 years, Minnesota has been a national leader in this area -- often used as a model for programs in other states and countries. Over the years, it has not been unusual to receive a call from someone in another state or country asking how we do things in Minnesota. The word has been "Minnesota knows how . . ." -- and yes, Minnesota has known how.
 

The key to Minnesota's leadership has been our grassroots approach. Input from users of programs on a local level and ideas from programs on a state level have kept battered women's programs sensitive, accessible, and accountable to those who use them. Survivors of battering have always been involved in the policies and standards that govern our programs. Consequently, in Minnesota we have programs with 24-hour crisis lines answered by trained advocates, lengths of stay that are dependent on the safety needs of the individual, per diem payments that are based on the actual cost of providing shelter or safe housing, intervention projects that are responsible to crime victims rather than to the criminal justice system, programs sensitive to the special needs of specific ethnic populations, and a collective awareness of how violence against women violates the basic values of justice, equality, respect, dignity, and peace.
 

While we have only begun this journey and surely will not see the end of domestic violence in our life time, we have saved many lives. Battered women have more options. Children of battered women are better protected. Communities have been educated and sensitized to domestic violence. We can say with certainty that our work has made a difference
 

Being safe is basic to anyone's well-being and survival. Yet providing shelter or safe housing is much more than providing safety. It opens a world of possibilities to the battered woman. It offers her the potential of a better future. It gives her time to make the most critical decisions of her life. It gives her the place to repair or revitalize relationships that have been undermined by the battering - whether it is her family, friends or her children. Shelters and safe homes are not merely stop gaps or band-aids. They are places of opportunity and promise.
 

To our many friends and supporters throughout the state who have given us the ability to offer the promise of a better future to battered women, we want to say, "Thank You." We want to express our appreciation to our community for the extraordinary assistance we have received from you through the years. We could not do what we do without you. We invite you to go with us into the future - building a peaceful world brick by brick - until we no longer need shelters and safe homes for anyone. It is our privilege to work with you.
 

Sincerely,

Judy Miller
Executive Director