A new facility in Downtown Elkhart is now open for women escaping abusive homes. The project is collaboration between the Elkhart Leadership Academy and Crossroads Community Church New Start.
The facility was created with a home-like setting to give abuse victims a safe shelter.
It’s called the New Start Home. There’s space for six women and they can stay for up to nine months.
Officials say they’ll be provided with meals and have access to mentorship, life skills classes, and job placement assistance.
Michelle Barnett is the leader on this project and was a victim of abuse herself.
“This house represents every abuse victim out there," she says. "Just as this house was transformed bit by bit, piece by piece, board by board, these women are going to be transformed.”
The home took about one year to complete. Barnett hopes to start accepting women as early as next week. She also hopes to open a second facility that will be able to house both women and children.