Protected land helps promote safety and community
A Montana land trust connects with a nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence to build a community where everyone can find safety.
Nearly a decade ago, the accredited Gallatin Valley Land Trust in Bozeman, Mont., launched a collaboration with Haven, a nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence, to build a community in which everyone can find safety.
The partnership came to fruition recently when Haven opened the Barnard Center, a new shelter and community resource center to support survivors of domestic violence. The shelter is located on 3 acres of a 12-acre Bozeman Pond property that the land trust helped to purchase for parks, trails, open space and a Haven shelter.
The groups shared the location of the shelter publicly to help bring domestic violence out of the shadows and reduce the stigma that survivors often face in a hidden location. For the first time in Haven’s history, survivors can bring their pets with them.
“The new shelter couldn’t come at a better time,” said Erica Aytes Coyle, Haven’s executive director. “Just last year, Haven served 12% more people than the year before, a signal that as Bozeman grows, so does the demand for our services. And this location — near a grocery store, an elementary school and trails — is critical, and frankly would have been out of Haven’s reach had we tried to work alone.”
To realize the project, Gallatin Valley Land Trust purchased the entire 12-acre property using bridge financing from The Conservation Fund and sold 3 acres to Haven at below market rate. The city of Bozeman purchased the remaining 9 acres with funding from the Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOP) Bond.
“This unique project demonstrates that effective land protection can also enhance the health and well-being of a community,” said Chet Work, executive director of Gallatin Valley Land Trust. “It is a testament to how GVLT’s unique skill set is a catalyst for visionary partnerships and bringing people together.”
If you or someone you love is a survivor of domestic violence and needs immediate assistance, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit their website for text and chat options.
If you reside in or near Bozeman, Montana, Haven's emergency support line is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a date including holidays at 406-586-4111.