services
Hands of Hope Resource Center advocates, educates and promotes societal change for those affected by crime and abuse. Our agency provides free and confidential services for those affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and general crime in Morrison and Todd counties.
HOUSING
Emergency Shelter and Long-Term Housing Support
Domestic violence shelters are available throughout Minnesota for individuals who need a safe place to stay while navigating an unsafe situation and planning for more permanent housing. Hands of Hope Resource Center can help you explore available shelter options and locate an open shelter bed. Each shelter will conduct its own screening process and speak with you directly to determine eligibility and available services.
Long-Term Housing Assistance
Finding affordable, long-term housing can be challenging, but support and resources are available. Hands of Hope advocates can help you explore housing assistance programs, rental assistance, housing subsidies, and other resources to help you secure stable housing. We can also coordinate with shelters and make referrals to programs that best meet your individual needs.
SAFE AT HOME
Safe at Home is a statewide address confidentiality program administered by the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. It is governed by state law that requires others to accept a special assigned address that is different from your real address.
If you are someone who fears for your safety, such as a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, Safe at Home can help you by establishing an alternate address that public and private entities must accept as your true address. This allows you to go about your daily life without the risk of the person you fear discovering your actual residential address.
How Can Safe at Home Help?
Safe at Home gives you a substitute address that you can use instead of your real address. It helps keep your home, work, and school addresses confidential. Safe at Home forwards your First Class Mail to you without charge, and can receive legal documents for you on your behalf.
To Be Eligible Apply You Must:
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Be a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or are afraid for your personal safety for another reason; and
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Reside in Minnesota; and
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Be at least 18 years old, or have a parent/legal guardian apply for you on your behalf; or
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Have a legal guardian apply for you if you are an incapacitated adult.
How Does a Person Enroll?
Currently, the only way to apply to Safe at Home is with the help of a Safe at Home Application Assistant – a victim advocate who has been specially trained to assist eligible people in applying to Safe at Home. A person who wants to enroll meets face-to-face with an application assistant to discuss their safety concerns, how the program works, and then together determine whether applying to Safe at Home is a good safety step to take. If it is determined that joining Safe at Home is appropriate, the application assistant helps with the application paperwork.
How Will You Get Your Mail?
Upon enrollment and certification, Safe at Home assigns the new participant a common P.O. Box address and a unique Lot Number. As a program participant, your First Class Mail will go to this P.O. Box and is then forwarded to your real address by Safe at Home staff. In Minnesota, all public and private entities must accept a participant’s assigned Safe at Home address and a participant cannot be required to disclose their real address. You are responsible for notifying people of your new Safe at Home address, including your bank, utilities, schools, family, and friends.
Is Participant Data Private and Secure?
Other than a Safe at Home participant’s name and assigned Safe at Home address, all Safe at Home participant information is classified as private data and maintained by the Safe at Home office. Measures are in place to secure participant data, which is extremely sensitive.
For more information about Safe At Home from the State of Minnesota, click here.
LEGAL SUPPORT
Hands of Hope Resource Center provides compassionate advocacy and support to help survivors understand their rights, navigate the criminal justice system, and access legal resources.
Criminal Justice and Emergency Legal Advocacy
Our advocates help survivors navigate criminal justice proceedings and emergency legal matters by providing information, guidance, and support throughout the process. Services may include:
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Explaining victims’ rights and the criminal justice process.
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Providing support during law enforcement investigations and statements.
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Accompanying clients to court hearings and meetings with prosecuting attorneys.
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Sharing updates and explaining the outcomes of court hearings.
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Helping clients prepare for trial.
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Assisting with applications for Orders for Protection (OFPs) and Harassment Restraining Orders (HROs), including modifications, extensions, and dismissals.
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Accompanying clients to related court hearings.
Recovering Financial Losses
If you have experienced financial losses as a result of crime or abuse, a Hands of Hope advocate can help you explore available financial assistance options and complete the necessary paperwork. These may include:
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Minnesota Crime Victims Reimbursement Program: A state-funded program that may help eligible crime victims cover certain expenses related to the crime.
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Restitution: Court-ordered financial repayment by an offender to compensate a victim for eligible losses.
Other Legal Assistance
Hands of Hope can connect survivors with additional legal resources, including referrals to legal aid organizations and private attorneys, to help address their individual needs.
PEER SUPPORT GROUPS
Hands of Hope offers a weekly, one-hour virtual domestic violence support group in a safe, supportive environment where participants can connect with others who have had similar experiences.
Interested in joining?
Current Hands of Hope clients: Ask your advocate for a referral to the support group.
New to Hands of Hope? Email advocates.handsofhope@gmail.com for more information about joining.
Confidentiality is Essential
All participants must have access to a quiet, private space where they can participate in the group confidentially. Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of everyone who attends is essential.
What to Expect From Support Group
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The support group provides an informal, supportive space to:
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Share concerns, thoughts, and feelings.
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Learn coping strategies and tools.
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Connect with others who have experienced similar situations.
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Discuss safety concerns and safety planning.
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Explore other topics that are important to participants.
You are welcome to share your experiences, listen to others, and participate in ways that feel comfortable for you.
How Can an Advocate Help?
A Hands of Hope advocate is here to listen, understand your needs, and help you explore options for moving forward. Advocates can help you identify possible solutions, develop a plan, and connect with resources and services that support your safety and well-being.
How to Connect With an Advocate
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You can reach a Hands of Hope advocate by:
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Calling our 24-hour hotline.
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Calling our office during regular business hours.
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Emailing our advocacy team at advocates.handsofhope@gmail.com
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Sending a message through our Facebook page.
You don't have to navigate this alone. Hands of Hope is here to listen, offer support, and help you connect with the resources you need.
SAFETY PLANNING
Victims of domestic violence need to think of safety planning when staying in an abusive relationship, when leaving an abusive relationship, when at work and when children are involved. Contact Hands of Hope and an advocate can help develop a safety plan for you.
When Children Are Involved
Discuss a safety plan with your children for when you are not with them. Make sure they know of a safe place to go in an emergency. Devise a code word or name to use with your children when you need the police. Give your children’s school a copy of the Order for Protection if one is in place.
When You Are Leaving an Abusive Relationship
As a result of concerns for victim safety, the courts have established the following safety planning procedures to be used in the event that a victim of domestic or sexual violence wants a DANCO or no contact order removed.
When You Are Staying in an Abusive Relationship
Think about what you can do to keep yourself and your children safe, particularly at times when your partner becomes abusive, or you sense the situation is escalating. Tell kids to go to a safe place if a fight starts. Stay away from rooms with potential weapons like kitchen knives, baseball bats, objects with sharp or pointy edges. If possible, move to a room that allows you an escape route or ability to lock the door or call for help. Always have a “go” bag with essentials ready.
When You Are at Work
Make sure your supervisor and/or other colleagues are aware of your situation. Give your supervisor a copy of the Order for Protection if one is in place. If possible, provide a picture of batterer and have someone screen your phone calls. Devise a safety plan for leaving work like having someone walk you to your car and using different routes to go home.
“Asking for help is never a sign of weakness. It's one of the bravest things you can do. And it can save your life.”
Lily Collins