11 1

Rising From Ashes

Burned-out domestic violence shelter
seeks a new level of support
from the Jewish community.

someplace to have counseling services
— if they need us to do that for them,
we would be happy to.
However, JFS cannot provide shel-
ter for the mothers and children,
Yashinsky said. JFS does maintain an
apartment with a kosher kitchen for
its Jewish clients facing domestic vio-
lence, but it's reserved for Jewish
clients.
Yashinsky has known Nuriel for
years, but their respective organiza-
tions have not had much close con-
tact. "It actually isn't until very recent-
ly that we've established a relationship
with them," Yashinsky said. The crisis
at HAVEN may serve to bring the two
closer together, she offered.
Though acquiring a substitute shel-
ter is of primary importance, Nuriel
said HAVEN's other compelling need
is for money. In lieu of a facility
where volunteers could lend a hand,
the organization is focusing on find-
ing a secure location, then funding it.
Myrna Edgar, president of the
National Council of Jewish Women's
Detroit-area section, said the fire, and
HAVEN's plight to gain a temporary
facility from state government, has
mobilized the council. "We've asked all
of our members ... to write to their
congressmen, to see what kind of pres-
sure we can put (to allow HAVEN) to
use the state facility they would like to
use," Edgar said early last week. "That's
all we can do at this point."
"According to our national
bylaws," she explained, "we can only
donate up to a hundred dollars to
another agency. We're doing that."
NCJW also is asking for private
donations on HAVEN's behalf, and
Edgar noted that people have been
writing checks. She said, "We told
Hedy to keep in touch with us, and
we'll be in touch with them when
they can move into their place." I 1

SAM ENGLAND
Staff Writer

x

AVEN, an organization
whose name is an
acronym for Help Against
Violent Encounters Now,
now is in need of help.
The 45-bed shelter in Pontiac
burned last month, from a possible
arson, leaving the 16 women and 28
children seeking refuge there home-
less. Repairs will take an estimated six
months, and the agency is struggling
to find a temporary facility while
Oakland County is without such a
shelter for the first time in 20 years.
Several Jewish agencies — Jewish
Family Service, Hadassah, Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
and National Council of Jewish
Women — already have offered assis-
tance.
"The Jewish community has been
wonderful to our organization," said
HAVEN director Hedy Nuriel, who is
Jewish. The majority of our donors
are Jewish," she said, and cited a large
degree of "Jewish involvement in
planning our services and fund rais-
ing.
Of the approximately 800 women
and children who take refuge there
annually, about 10 percent are Jewish,
but "we see a lot of Jewish women in
our counseling services," Nuriel said,
pointing out that domestic violence
and sexual assault are "equal opportu-
nity crimes.''
HAVEN continues to provide
counseling to clients and is staffing its
crisis hotline.
Jewish organizations are respond-
ing variously. "Hadassah just the
other day brought over a lot of chil-
dren's items," Nuriel said, adding that
she had been in contact with several
other groups in the Jewish communi-

tY. "I called Hedy [Nuriel] the day that
I heard, to tell her that whatever it is
that we could do, we'd be happy to do
for them," said Ellen Yashinsky of
Jewish Family Service. "If they need
someplace to hold groups, if they need

12/3
1999
10

Director iletly
Nuriel amidst the
burned-out rum
ofHAVEN

Donations may be sent to
HAVEN, 75 W. Huron St.,
Pontiac, MI 48342, or call
(248) 334-2343, ext. 34.

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