After 30 years, need for domestic violence shelters still grows in Southern Nevada

Editor's note: Este artículo está traducido al español.

More than 30 years ago, survivors of domestic violence in Henderson had nowhere to turn. With no local shelter to offer safety, many had no choice but to leave the city entirely — or stay in danger.

That gap in care would prove to be the spark for something that has changed thousands of lives. Out of that unmet need came Stop Abuse in the Family Environment (SAFE) House, Henderson’s first domestic violence shelter — and three decades later, its legacy speaks for itself.

What began in 1994 as a 700-square-foot townhome with just six bunk beds has grown into one of Nevada’s most vital resources for survivors of power-based violence. Co-founded by a group of 10 citizens — among them Julie Proctor and her late husband, Judge Ken Proctor — the organization started as a grassroots effort under the ownership of St. Rose Dominican Hospital to fill a void the community could no longer ignore.

By 1996, SAFE House had outgrown its modest beginnings. With the support of private donors and the City of Henderson, the organization constructed its current shelter, expanding from 12 beds to 54 — a turning point that would allow the organization to reach far more survivors in crisis.

For Proctor, who founded the organization from her own experience, that moment was deeply personal.

“When I was a victim of domestic violence, there was no place to escape from my abuser,” she said. “So, when the City of Henderson, private builders, and the community rallied alongside our board and founders to build our own, dedicated shelter, they were creating a lifeline I know many survivors wish they’d had back then. The day we opened the shelter doors, I cried tears of joy knowing we could save so many more lives.”

Proctor led the organization for nearly three decades before retiring in 2021, passing the torch to Elizabeth Flory. But the mission she helped build remains as urgent as ever.

As SAFE House marks its 30th anniversary this year at its shelter, it does so against the backdrop of a sobering reality: Domestic violence cases in Nevada continue to rise, and the need for safe harbor has never been greater.

Nevada ranks in the top 10 nationally for its rate of domestic violence, according to the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, a statewide coalition of service providers, partners, survivors and people who work in organizations dedicated to eliminating power-based violence.

A 2024 report from Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence found at least 17,188 domestic violence victims reported in Nevada. The majority — about 8,975 — resided in Clark County.

There were also 49 reported domestic violence-related homicides in 2024, the report found. The report is the group’s most recent data.

Among the 13,209 first-time victims of domestic violence in 2024, just over 10,000 identified as women while 2,155 were men and 26 were transgender.

Since July alone, SAFE House has provided emergency shelter for 176 individuals — 110 adults and 66 children — and officials said that number continues to grow. With walk-in visits — those who don’t stay overnight — they work with 60 victims daily.

SAFE House offers free services such as 24-hour, seven-day-a-week emergency shelter for singles, LGBTQ+ people and solo parents caring for children. They also provide counseling for both children and adults; legal advocacy and assistance; and community education to teach people the signs of a possible domestic abuse situation and how to get help. It also tackles issues like finding pet care for survivors and immigration issues.

The organization has trained legal and personal advocates stationed in the North Las Vegas City Attorney’s office and the Henderson Police Department, who each handle about 100 cases a month.

The shelter is continuing to evolve.

It received $123,377 in 2024 from Henderson as part of a Community Development Block Grant fund from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to replace sinks, toilets, shower enclosures and 30-year-old plumbing that had been causing leaks, Flory said. The project went over budget, but another group didn’t use $45,000 of its funding and the Henderson City Council voted to allocate that to SAFE House to finish the work.

The enhancements make the shelter feel more comfortable and safer, Flory said. That’s been the group’s mission the past three decades — and for decades to come.

“For victims and survivors in Southern Nevada, access to resources like SAFE House can mean the difference between life and death,” Flory said. “Thirty years represents more than longevity for us. It represents our impact; thousands of lives protected, families reunited, and futures restored. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and we’re committed to continuing this work for the next 30 years and beyond.”

Visit safehousenv.org/donate for details on how to fund.

grace.darocha@gmg vegas.com / 702-948-7854 / @gracedarocha