Inside Haven
Our Mission
As Oakland County’s only comprehensive program for victims of intimate partner violence, rape and sexual assault — HAVEN provides over 30,000 no-cost services each year including shelter, counseling, advocacy, and educational programming.
Our Vision
To eradicate sexual assault and intimate partner violence and heal those affected by its injustice.
Our Guiding Principles
Intimate partner violence affects everyone, regardless of race, background, or gender.
Everyone deserves the right to their own identity and freedom
from abuse.
Survivor-centered services honor the experiences and expertise of each individual.
Prevention education and safety planning at all stages is crucial to ending violence and breaking down harmful societal norms, getting to the root cause of abuse so gender inequality and oppression can be examined and confronted.
Abuse is never provoked, and survivors deserve support and respect.
All people have the right to live without fear.
Haven History
1975
HAVEN was founded as Oakland County's first and only sexual assault counseling program for the YMCA of Pontiac, MI. Debi Cain, HAVEN'S first Executive Director, was hired. Community Education (Prevention Education) launched.
1977
HAVEN broadened its services to include intimate partner violence services.
1979
HAVEN housed our first battered woman in the shelter in January.
1982
HAVEN became a private non-profit agency and separated from the YMCA.
1984
HAVEN broadened services to children from violent homes and added services for children suffering from physical and emotional abuse and neglect as well as sexual abuse.
1985
HAVEN conducted a successful capital campaign and purchased the shelter in Pontiac.
1986
HAVEN started the first batterers program in the state of Michigan.
1987
The Advocacy Program (Social Action) launched.
1989
HAVEN opened its first satellite counseling office in Southfield. HAVEN was located in four facilities throughout the county - Royal Oak, Bingham Farms and two sites in Pontiac.
1992
HAVEN began supervised parenting time services with SPTP (Supervised Parenting Time Program). Hedy Nuriel, HAVEN's second Executive Director was hired.
1993
HAVEN developed a Coordinated Community Approach to intimate partner violence along with police departments, courts, hospitals and other human service providers. This program is the national model for others who wish to replicate such a comprehensive approach to ending violence in homes throughout America.
1995
HAVEN completed a 5-year strategic plan that charted the course of the organization. The agency initiated its first annual campaign fund drive.
1998
HAVEN voted Best Managed Non-Profit by Crain's Detroit Business.
1999
HAVEN had a fire that destroyed the shelter on Nov. 14.
2000
POH Medical Center gave HAVEN space to move the shelter in February following the fire.
2001
Staff moved back to the rehabbed shelter for counseling and administration while the shelter remained at the hospital in March.
2002
HAVEN began its START program, a sexual assault forensic nurse examiner site.
2003
Beth Morrison, HAVEN's third Executive Director was hired.
2005
HAVEN moves back into the rehabbed shelter and celebrates 30 years of service.
2006
Survivors Speakers Bureau launches. PPO (Personal Protection Order) Office opened in Oakland County government building.
2008
Advocacy Program renamed to Social Action and Community Education became Prevention Education Program.
2009
HAVEN received a 3-year grant to increase their ability to serve deaf victims and PAH! was formed as a collaboration between HAVEN, DeafCan! and Deaf Women's Advocacy Services.
2009
Counseling held its first day-long Creative Healing Workshop for clients-still an annual event HAVEN event.
2010
HAVEN staff were certified in Mentors In Violence Prevention programming.
2010
The HAVEN Garden Project is started with the help of MI Young Farmers Coalition. Beth Morrison, CEO, was awarded the Wayne State University College of Nursing Lifeline Achievement Award.
2011
HAVEN discontinued The Batterers Intervention Program. HAVEN launched the capital campaign for the all-in-one facility in Pontiac.
2012
HAVEN started a Trauma Stewardship program for staff to help them cope with secondary trauma, compassion fatigue and burnout. HAVEN hosted its first-ever Sexual Assault Conference, training more than 100 local professionals. The agency purchased 5 acres of land on Vanguard Dive, soon to be HAVEN's new home.
2013
HAVEN launches a pilot project with Farmington HIlls to provide more comprehensive response to high lethality intimate partner violence cases. This would become the Farmington Hills High Risk Response Team. In partnership with DeafCan! and Deaf Women's Advocacy Services, we developed and launched the online chat program with live crisis counselors. In response to MI's new felony strangulation law, HAVEN co-sponsored a training entitled, Techniques for Documenting, Investigating and Prosecuting Strangulation. Oakland County Board of Commissioners presents HAVEN with the Crime Victim Services Distinction award for Professional Innovation in victim services.
2014
HAVEN receives a perfect quality assessment score from the MI Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board (MDSVPTB). The first agency in the 14-year history of the current standards to do so. Groundbreaking for the new facility takes place in June.
2015
HAVEN moves into the new 36,000 sq. ft. facility-based on a Family Justice Center model. This brings all HAVEN services under one roof for the first time since inception.
2016
The agency launched the Resource & Community Partnership program to connect clients to our in-house career center and more than 30 community service partners for housing, education, financial management and medical care.
2017
HAVEN opens the Farber Family Pet Center to provide a secure place for the companion animals of survivors living in the shelter. HAVEN and Auburn Hills launched a High Risk Response Team to improve outcomes for survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence.
2018
HAVEN in partnership with Cooper Standard completes construction of the residential playground in memory of Darien Locklear. HAVEN hosted Strangulation: The Last Warning Shot in collaboration with Oakland University and the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention. HAVEN's fifth President & CEO, Aimee Nimeh, was hired.
2022
HAVEN hires sixth CEO & President, Christine Kinal.
2024
HAVEN is the only organization in Oakland County which provides advocacy, education, counseling and shelter exclusively for survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault.
2025
HAVEN celebrates 50 years of serving survivors