In March of 2007, the doors of “The Nest” opened. This state of the art shelter for victims of domestic violence has provided and met the needs of domestic violence victims for over five years.
Help End Abuse for Life (HEAL) operates the Nest. Over the last four years, this fiscally conservative agency has weathered financial cutbacks yet, despite these shortages in funding, has continued to provide full and complete services to survivors and their children. In fact, when many domestic violence organizations were laying off staff and cutting client programs, the staff at the Nest took on more responsibility and expanded their offerings. Because of this, The Nest stands as an example, a progressive model that inspires other shelters across the state.
“Visitors who walk through our shelter express how beautiful it is. For the women and children who live here, it is a family home.The number of people who have used a single bedroom over the past three years is enormous. Keeping the shelter looking polished and pristine is important to our HEAL family,” explains Carrie Calkins, Senior Shelter Supervisor. “It’s not easy for these women to leave their home and enter a shelter. It means a great deal to me to know these women find comfort and take pride in living at the Nest.”
During the five years the Nest has been open, countless women and children have passed through the doors. Some have stayed for ninety days, some for weeks, others for mere days. Advocates work tirelessly on behalf of survivors to help them attain the tools they need to survive independently and live safely outside of the shelter.
Beginning in June, the Nest starts a minor “face-lift” project, whose goal is to maintain the 6,500 square foot building. The hardworking advocacy staff and Board of Directors are rolling up their sleeves to repaint walls and shelves, weed eating around the facility and painting the car stops and parking spot lines in the parking lot. Some of the work, such as carpet or tile restoration and hanging a new door on the water softener shed, will require community involvement. “We’re hoping some of the handymen and contractors in the area will step forward to volunteer their services to help us complete some of these minor projects. We’ll provide the materials, but we need specialized skills to properly complete the work,” explains Coleen Widell, HEAL executive director.
Among the professionals sought are a repair person to build shelving and make minor repairs, and a carpet repair person. Anyone interested in donating his or her time to the Nest during the month of June should contact HEAL office manager Sue Francis at 378-6378.
Pictured is The Nest Domestic Violence Shelter in Ruidoso Downs