Since 1983, New Directions has been assisting the Knox County community in domestic, sexual and gender related violence cases, and in an effort to increase space and visibility in the community, the organization has put together a capital campaign with hopes of purchasing a new building.
The multi-year campaign has a goal of $1.5 million, and since it was was rolled out on Oct. 28, $844,558 has already been raised. Executive Director Lori Jones-Perkins said the goal is to increase the overall shelter capacity, as well as creating office and community space to become more visible in the community. A large portion of funding will be used to renovate and purchase property at 212 N. Main St. in Mount Vernon.
“The space will allow our entire staff of 11 full-time employees to be housed in the same office location,” Jones-Perkins said. “Additionally, we will have two large community spaces that will be available for educational training opportunities, a designated area for youth and the work of the agency’s Teen Advisory Council, and potentially other areas offered such as counseling services in the future.”
Some funds will be used for technology, space setup and upgrades in the shelter. She said there are plans to create new space with significant security involving surveillance cameras. A small portion will also go to staff wages, insurance costs, advertising, promotions and printing costs.
Jones-Perkins said New Directions has grown in recent years. In Fiscal Year 2021, the organization served 400 individual clients and also answered 1,076 hotline calls. There were 39 individuals served in shelter for 1,190 nights. Prevention educators provided 2,986 units of programming to 1,003 people, and 2,462 advocacy services were provided. Numbers are roughly at the same rate halfway through Fiscal Year 2022, with the exception of the prevention program, which is increasing in demand as it has nearly matched last year’s number already.
“Our prevention program offers programming Pre-K to adult in local schools, businesses and organizations," Jone3s-Perkins said. "We offer training programs for small groups, professional development and beyond."
New Directions opened on Jan. 1, 1983, offering hotline and supportive services for domestic violence victims, with office space located at the Interchurch building. The agency moved to a local house provided as shelter space in October 1985. In 1988, New Directions became the only rape crisis center in Knox County. New Directions is the only agency that provides service for gender-based, domestic and sexual-based violence in the community.
New Directions also created the Teen Advisory Council as part of the DELTA Project in the early 2000s. The youth-led council has evolved over the past five years and represents all Knox County high schools, with 27 students involved.
To donate to the capital campaign, log onto www.newdirectionsshelter.org and click the “capital campaign” tab. Donations can also be mailed to PO Box 453, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. Anyone donating $1,000 or more can do so at the New Directions Capital Campaign Fund at the Knox County Foundation.
Administrative offices are at 110 E. Gambier St. in Mount Vernon. Services are free of charge and are open to the public by appointment or walk-in from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Directions can be reached at 740-397-4357.
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