About Safe Harbor

About Us

We work to save, transform, and rebuild lives.

We support those who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence, sexual violence, or human trafficking.

In all of our programs, we work from a trauma-informed and empowerment-focused lens. We see each survivor as the expert of their own experiences and strive to create a safe and welcoming space for all. Our goals are to help clients understand and address the impact of trauma and build resilience.

Our services are available in both English and Spanish and are available to anyone who has experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, or human trafficking regardless of race, gender, age, national origin, immigration status, gender identity or expression, faith, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, and geographic location. Because survivors are often controlled financially by their abuser and cannot pay for services without fear of retribution, all services are offered free of charge to the survivor.

We offer comprehensive services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking including: individual and group counseling, children/youth services, 24-hour helpline, court advocacy, emergency shelter, hospital accompaniment, and community education and training.

Long term, we are committed to transforming the lives of survivors. By providing shelter, counseling, support, education, and advocacy to survivors, we are helping those who have been impacted by violence and abuse to heal, rebuild, and move forward with their lives.

We were founded in 1998 when representatives of Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Commonwealth Catholic Charities, Henrico County, The Salvation Army, Virginia Commonwealth University Sexual Assault Program, and the YWCA of Richmond met to address the shortage of shelter beds and support services in Henrico County for domestic violence victims. We opened our doors in April 2000 as an emergency shelter to provide safe housing for victims of domestic violence in imminent danger.

While Henrico County is our primary service area, we are proud to collaborate with our community partners to serve the Greater Richmond region.

Safe Harbor Board of Directors:

Stephanie Dixon, President – VP, Human Resources, Grafton

Lori Belza, Vice President – Community Volunteer

Steve D’Ambrosia, Treasurer – Vice President and Controller, Altria Group, Inc.

Kate Kelley, Secretary – AVP and Associate General Counsel, CarMax

Angie Dempsey, Past President – Senior Gift Officer, Bon Secours Richmond Health Care Foundation

Baird Beers, Jr – Senior Director, Associate General Counsel, Capital One

Emily Cherry – Senior Manager, Executive Communications, Carmax

Grace Choi – Chief Compliance Officer and Head of Client Services, Wills Financial Group

Abby Dickson – President, Executive Consultant, Acclaim Care

Leah Dodge – President, Decorum Interiors

Renée Fleming Mills, PhD. – HR Director/ADA Coordinator, Administrative Office of the Supreme Court of Virginia

Emily Griffey Ewees – Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, University of Richmond

Claudia Guerrero Barrera – Language Access Coordinator, Virginia Department of Health

Tonya S. Hall – Vice President of External Relations, Virginia State University

Kim Harrison – Director of Marketing, HOUSEpitality Family Restaurant Group

Harold McManus – Community Volunteer

Tyler R. Pharr – IT Business Analyst, McGuire Woods

Daniel Sellergren – Founding Engineer, Dunbar

Megan Shockley – Real Estate Agent, Compass

Amanda Short – Associate Attorney, Moran, Reeves, and Conn, PC

Aleks Whitchurch – CEO, Co-Founder, Quanta Credit Services, Inc.

Missy Wycinsky – Associate General Counsel, Truist Bank

Ann Yauger – AVP, Product Management, CarMax

Staff:

Leadership Team

Kat Zarfas
Finance Manager
kat@safeharborshelter.com
804-249-9470 x110

Alexandria “Ali” Wall, LPC
Director of Human Trafficking Services
alexandria@safeharborshelter.com
804-249-9470 x141

Katherine Moore
Volunteer & Administrative Manager
katherine@safeharborshelter.com
804-249-9470 x123

Jennifer Campbell
Manager, Court Advocacy
jennifer@safeharborshelter.com
804-501-7696

Counseling Team

Sonja Paviour, MSW, Supervisee in Social Work
Bilingual Therapist
sonja@safeharborshelter.com

Safe Houses Team

Talia Steele
HT Shelter Coordinator
talia@safeharborshelter.com

Raven White
Case Manager
raven@safeharborshelter.com

Cara Boim
Case Manager
cara@safeharborshelter.com

Outreach and Education

Development Team