Our Core Values

A staff and Board of Directors made up of people with diverse belief systems and backgrounds helps HAVEN be a stronger agency. At the same time, prospective staff and volunteers should understand HAVEN's core values and the issues we publicly support.

• Because HAVEN understands violence occurs in intimate relationships regardless of gender, and that recognition of those relationships is an important part of finding safety and healing, we support marriage equality regardless of sexual orientation.

• Because HAVEN knows reproductive coercion is often a part of violent relationships, and control over one’s own body is often the first thing a survivor of domestic or sexual abuse needs to establish for healing, we support pro-choice policies and increased access to women’s reproductive health services.

• Because HAVEN understands that barriers to reporting and getting help can be different between the transgender and cisgender communities, and among men, women, and people who don’t identify as either, we support policies that are inclusive of everyone regardless of gender identity.

• Because HAVEN understands survivors in immigrant populations may have additional barriers to reporting, or may view safety differently than the dominant culture does, we support policies that increase safety for immigrant populations regardless of the legal status of individuals.

• HAVEN believes there is an intersection between power/privilege at a societal level and the effectiveness of traditional responses to violence experienced by those without power. Therefore, we support policies and practices that reflect the unique experience of traditionally marginalized populations. In particular, HAVEN seeks to improve community responses for survivors who are people of color, members of the LGBT community, survivors of abuse in later life, and survivors with disabilities.