On July 1, 2024, SARCC launched a new permanent supported housing program in partnership with the Schuylkill Mental Health office and Service Access Management. Dubbed the Healing at Home Project, this new approach to providing stable and secure housing for survivors of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and human trafficking represented a shift in service opportunities for survivors through SARCC. The program was designed to provide 6 to 24 months of supported housing services, allowing survivors experiencing housing instability the opportunity to develop a safe home-base from which to build their healing and resiliency.
One year into the program, SARCC’s Healing at Home Project has provided 1,460 nights of supported housing. Our participants were able to begin with completely covered cost related to both rent and utilities and received move-in assistance. Over the course of the first year in the program, every few months, the participant steps up in covering a portion of the rent and utilities cost. This program was designed with the goal of building opportunities-to establish financial stability and the ability to hold the cost of market value rent over time.
We also celebrated a beautiful ribbon-cutting in partnership with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce in April as part of our Sexual Assault Awareness Month Events. At this ribbon-cutting, we announced that our houses would be named after individuals who have contributed to the SARCC mission in ways that exemplify our values. Clarissa’s house is a home dedicated to SARCC’s a long-time prevention specialist, Clarissa Geary, and exemplifies our prevention value. Micah‘s house, which was acquired through the generosity of the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, is named in honor of our longtime board member Micah Gursky. This house is dedicated to our advocacy value.
In 2025, our second house will be fully renovated and ready for a family to move in. We are excited to continue to grow and expand access to the Healing at Hime program. We are also seeking opportunities to expand this program in Lebanon county. If you are aware of any grant, foundation, or personal philanthropy that can help us to expand this goal to provide more permanent supportive housing options to survivors in our communities, please contact our office at info@sarccheals.org.
