Shepherd’s Door Domestic Violence and Resource Center Helps Victims of Domestic Violence Survive

Pasadena-based nonprofit Shepherd’s Door Domestic Violence Resource Center (Shepherd’s Door) was founded by Tunisia Offray’s mother Linda Offray in 2000 to assist and support victims of domestic violence. 

The center was established after Tunisia suffered from domestic abuse.

“I am a victim of teen dating violence and also sexual assault which I experienced in high school. And that really took my family through a lot,” Tunisia, President of Shepherd’s Door told Pasadena Now. “And I feel like my mother and my father were shocked and heartbroken and felt like there was little that they were able to do in regards to seeking justice for me, especially back during those times.”

Tunisia’s terrible experience and those of other girls prompted Linda, who was at that time working as a community manager and a case manager, to start her abuse awareness initiatives.

“Going into the homes and also seeing a lot of abuse happening within those family dynamics as well as watching what it is that I was experiencing, it kind of drove a cause for action for her,” Tunisia said.

Later, Tunisia herself experienced healing through the center. She underwent therapy there.

“Coming to Shepherd’s Door showed me that I wasn’t alone, and it helped me to not be afraid, and it helped me to not be embarrassed by what it was that I went through.”

“Once going through the therapy for myself and my children, I was able to go on a path of healing.”

Eventually, from being a victim, she became a survivor. 

She later joined her mother in running the center, along with other staff members who also have lived experience. 

In the beginning, Shepherd’s Door would only provide resource referrals to connect victims of violence to other nonprofit or city programs.

In 2016, Shepherd’s Door started offering shelter after seeing the number of people who were homeless as a result of domestic violence increase.

“That kind of pushed and changed our scope of practice into doing more permanent housing solutions to help clients who are not able to get into shelters immediately, at least get access to housing immediately, and then wraparound services to stay stable,” said Tunisia.

To date, services for domestic violence victims being offered by Shepherd’s Door include domestic violence counseling, support groups, financial literacy workshops, healing art workshops and legal assistance.

They also conduct education workshops for youth in local schools to raise awareness of healthy relationships versus unhealthy relationships and aid in violence prevention.

“We offer everything that you think that you can need in order to be stable and independent and not have to return back to abuse.”

Shepherd’s Door partner organizations include Domestic Violence Coalition, Pasadena Prosecution Office, Pasadena Unified School District, District Attorney’s Office, First African Methodist Episcopal Church and Union Station, among other organizations and offices.

Despite its successes, funding and resource distribution remains a challenge for Shepherd’s Door.

“It is challenging to get funding,” said Tunisia. “In our society, we have a bad habit of continuously funding the exact same organizations and not stretching out the funding to other organizations who are doing the same level of work.”

Tunisia said in order to efficiently help everybody, funding has to be distributed equally.

“What we’re seeing is that people are reaching out to some of the other programs and they’re not receiving help quick enough.”

“So we need to start changing with the time and start recognizing programs that are still in our community that have been doing the work, and then extend that funding to them as well so that people are not being left out in the cold.”

Currently, most of the nonprofit’s funding comes from foundations, corporate and individual donors, and self-revenue generating programs, according to Tunisia. 

To donate to Shepherd’s Door, visit: 

https://www.shepherddoor.org/how-you-can-help/.

If you or someone who needs services offered by the nonprofit, call 626-765-9967 or email sd@shepherddoor.org.

For more information about the nonprofit and its upcoming events visit: https://www.shepherddoor.org/.