As many of you know, I have been both honored and humbled to have been on the Board at Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence since 2017.
These last two years will go down in history as the most challenging time for the agency as it responded to not only the challenges of COVID but also the tragic scenario of domestic violence survivors being sheltered in place with their abusers. We will be dealing with the magnitude of this public health crisis and its impact for many years to come.
The "shadow" pandemic of domestic violence is the most frequent form of gender-based violence, and it dramatically impacts both survivors and their children. Next Door Solutions is leading efforts in Santa Clara County to continue to work with system partners, community agencies, and allies throughout our community as everyone has a role to play in ending domestic violence.
During Covid, our programs and services were designated as essential, and our incredible staff pivoted to working remotely for the protection of our clients, the public, and our employees. We are proud that our programs and services never stopped. Our shelter and 24-hour crisis hotline remained in operation without interruption as our services expanded to be flexible to meet the needs of our community.
Next Door Solutions celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021. As the agency moves into its next fifty years, we are grateful for your support, the trust of our clients and their families, and an outstanding team of advocates. I invite you to join in and support us as we recommit to ending domestic violence in the moment…and for all time!
