OUR MISSION: "Providing a safe home without violence for a family in crisis."
The Bernie House is a 5O1 C 3, non-profit organization. The Bernie House is a single family, transitional housing project for families fleeing domestic violence.
Our program is part of the solution of homelessness due to domestic violence in Maryland. The Bernie House is located in Silver Spring, MD and can boast of over six years of success.
Our program takes the abused out of a shelter, provides a safe and stable home, and with the help of others agencies provides extensive case management. Our program is truly unique because we focus all our attention on one family at a time - our families don't fall through the cracks.
We provide the non-offending parent and the children a genuine family environment while they receive counseling and additional human services. During their stay at The Bernie House the family is given the necessary time to heal, to build confidence, to become self-sufficient, and move onto more permanent housing. Families are accepted through the referral of local agencies. To see the actual program house please visit our "About Us"section.
We have been told by many agencies The Bernie House provides intense case management that just isn't found anywhere else. Often times, victims of domestic violence are placed in temporary shelters to focus on immediate needs. After a short period of time these families are either turned out onto the street, placed in transitional housings, or return to their abuser. The victims return to the abuser for many reasons but mostly because they lack the resources and support needed to become self-sufficient and provide their children a safe home; at that point - the of cycle begins again.
The Bernie House stops the cycle of violence.
The Bernie House provides a longer-term situation, which is crucial to a family's success. The Bernie House complements existing programs to ensure the success of the victims. We believe that the longer a family stays in a home, the better chance they have of obtaining the proper resources needed to become completely self-sufficient. Time is given to build important support structures, and the feeling of stability increases in both the parent and the children.
The primary goal of The Bernie House is to break the cycle of violence - by providing a safe home and case management to victims of domestic violence; one family at a time.
Please know the survival of The Bernie House depends on the support of conscious citizens like YOU.
The Bernie House is a community-supported project to lend a hand to families in crisis.
Please don't hesitate - get involved TODAY!
Our Mission
"Providing a safe home without violence for a family in crisis."
The Objective
To accept weaknesses and encouraging strengths, promoting peace and harmony, and a new future for a children and the non-offending parent. This is done through extensive case management and providing financial relief by living in The Bernie House.
The Concept
The Bernie House is a single family transitional home for the non-offending parent and children who have left an abusive situation. Our program gives the opportunity for an abused family to develop and become self-sufficient by living in a safe environment with eased financial requirements.
The family is up-lifted through several agencies and organizations that provide counseling, job training and placement assistance, adult education, child advocacy and day care. The adult must make monthly payments on utilities and a minimal fee for rent. Rent will be given back at the end of the term to be used as a down payment on a home or for first and last months rent at a more permanent location.
A two-year maximum stay is allowed per family. At the end of each term The Bernie House Board of Directors approves another family. They will then move in and have an opportunity to rise above their hardships.
The Results
The last family lived in The Bernie House for two years. In that time their lives were transformed. The family had a safe home to live in rather than a shelter or with the abuser. They received individual and group therapy. The mother earned her GED, became gainfully employed, and her children prospered. The mother learned how to budget, organize, and manage a household. With the help of The Bernie House staff and volunteers, the last Bernie House Mother was primed to become self sufficient, gain permanent housing, and was able to provide a stable living environment for her family.
Please consider becoming a volunteer or sponsor, and help
The Bernie House "provide a safe home without violence for a family in crisis."
Sincerely,
Siabhan K. Downs
Chairwoman
Please Note: The above photo is the actual program house: The Bernie House.
The program house consists of the lower level with three bedrooms and one and half baths.
The address has been removed to protect the privacy of each Bernie House Family.
Hughes golf registration 11 word.doc
Many Thanks to our 2010 Sponsors!
Jack & Donna Hughes
John & Victoria Messano
RAW Ink Studio
Worch Electric
The Toquinto Family
Ruppert Landscaping
Marylin Seymour
The Human Funk League
Pi Beta Phi Fraternity
Drink More Water
Proto Designs
We hope to see you in 2011!
BECOME A SPONSOR!
Supporting Sponsors:
All donations are tax-deductible
supporting sponsor will receive a hole sign, acknowledgment in our golf program and on our website.
Beverage Sponsor.....($400)
Putting Contest Sponsor.......($500)
Hole Sponsor........($250)
Friend of The Bernie House Sponsor...($100)
Gold Sponsor:.......($1,100)
Includes:
Driving Range
4 Golfer Tickets
Lunch, Dinner Reception and Awards
Caddies
Tee Sign
Half-Page Ad in our Program
Golfer Gifts
Silver Sponsor:..........($750)
2 Golfer Tickets
Bronze Sponsor:........($500)
1 Golfer Ticket
Quarter Page Ad in our Program
SPONSOR
Donate
TITLE SPONSORSHIP $2,500.00
Includes all of the above PLUS 2 Personal Caddies, Designation of Being the Presenting Sponsor for the Tournament, Name in all advertising and Press, Full Page Ad in our Program, Plus a Foursome.
Patricia Hughes Slaughter
2010-2011 Primum Vivere Recipient !
On Sat. September 25th, 2010 in Clarksburg, MD at The HomeTown GetDown, we honored Patricia H. Slaughter for her founding of and her dedication to The Bernie House.
The Primum Vivere Award is the greatest honor The Bernie House can bestow upon a person. This award recognizes the act of selfless giving in order to help those in need.
Thank you Patti for over 20 years of community service!
SPRING CLEANING!
Here at The Bernie House we are getting ready for Spring early!
We are happy to report that our third family has moved on to more permenant housing, and has become self sufficient.
Now its time to prepare the program house for our 4th family!!
Please consider getting involved. We need volunteers to help clean and paint.
If you are interested in getting involved please email Siabhan Downs .
