GTLA Bar Association Seeking Donations To Keep Safe Haven Open

The Grand Traverse Leelanau Antrim (GTLA) Bar Association is seeking a community match for a $2,500 donation to help keep Safe Haven open.

Safe Haven provides a safe location for parents who have PPO or domestic violence history to see their children while they work through substance abuse or mental health issues, unstable relationships or volatile living arrangements. The organization "eliminates the opportunity for conflict and manipulation between parents and ensures that parenting time orders are followed," according to the GTLA Bar Association. "Parents and children are able to focus on their time together without the hassles, interruptions, and even trauma that can occur during unsupervised child visits and exchanges." In 2016, Safe Haven provided 4,305 supervised visits and safe child exchanges to 151 families, 302 parents and 219 children from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, and Manistee Counties.

Safe Haven found out in September the organization will not receive federal funding that had previously sustained its Mancelona and Traverse City offices for years. Safe Haven will close its Mancelona location April 15, and is trying to fundraise to keep its Traverse City office open until the next federal funding cycle in October. The GTLA Bar Association is offering to match $2,500 in donations from the public - accepted through Safe Haven's website - to help keep the program operational. "Safe Haven is a very valuable resource for the local family law attorneys who have many clients utilizing (the program)," the GTLA Bar Association said in a statement.