NORTH SALT LAKE — Women and children who have faced domestic abuse can find safe shelter and a lot more at the Safe Harbor Transitional Housing.

Kelsie Strong, program manager for the facility, told Bountiful Breakfast Exchange Club members last week that the transitional housing units at Safe Harbor Crisis Center not only provides an apartment for the women and children to live, but teaches self-sufficiency to women so they can live on their own.

She also gave club members a preview of Safe Harbor’s annual fund raiser, Evergreens and Christmas Things, set this year for Nov. 16-17., at the Davis Conference Center in Layton.

The event features decorated Christmas trees which are auctioned off. The public is invited to a preview of the trees on Nov. 16 from 4-9 p.m.Then on Nov. 17 from 5-6:30 a silent auction will be held, followed by dinner.

Construction on the transitional housing unit began in 2003 and now there are 10 apartments available providing low-income housing for victims of domestic abuse for up to two years. Most women stay about 11 months, Strong told club members.

Women who are residents of the housing unit must have a job and can go to school. Strong said one current resident works nine hours a week, but is attending school.The women must pay 30 percent of their income for housing, but can get discounts if they attend school.Rent is based on the woman’s gross income. The women can have no drug or alcohol dependency, or have no drug-related or criminal activity within the past five years.

Strong said that because the aim of the housing is self-sufficiency, residents must pay rent, utilities and find and pay for child care, except when the women are in classes, when child care is provided at Safe Harbor. Women are assisted with financial planning and are also taught parenting skills, while the children also receive services and “are given a lot of support,” Strong said.

The children’s program offers advocacy, safety planning, domestic violence education, case management, after school activities.

Strong said the facility is secure, and that while each resident has a key, they must not let in any males over 18, not even clergy without special permission. “A (male) stranger in the building might be frightening to the residents,” except if they are with a staff member, Strong said.

She told club members that the facility is hoping to expand into a new building, which would provide much needed office space, a day care and a wing which would allow medical exams for victims of sexual assault.