About

In September of 1984, a nine-member task force was brought together by District Judge Glenn Dale Carter to address the issues of Domestic Violence in the Pottawatomie and Lincoln County areas. The group gathered information to determine the needs of the area. Emotional and financial support was prominent from the community.

            In January of 1985, Project Safe, Inc. was incorporated in the State of Oklahoma as a private non-profit. By July, the Board of Director had formed, by-laws were developed and a 15-member volunteer team had trained to operate a 24-hour crisis line. The President of the Board of Directors, Jennifer Freed, served as a Volunteer Coordinator.

            Through community fundraising and a grant from United Way of Pottawatomie County, a part-time Director was hired. In March of 1986, Project Safe, Inc. hired a Volunteer Director and was fortunate enough to receive donated office space from the D.A.R.E program. Although only paid for part-time work, Ms. Freed was devoted full-time to Project Safe. Ms. Freed established cooperation with Law enforcement, the court system and other beneficial resources. The number of victims steadily increased.

            In July of 1987, Project Safe, Inc was awarded a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) from the attorney’s Council and the Department of Justice. This grant, as well as the generous contributions from United Way of Pottawatomie County and multiple private donors and church groups, helped establish permanent facilities for Project Safe.

            As the number of clients increased, project Safe, Inc decided to increase the staff. In 1988, the agency hired a full- time client advocate. In 1989, Project Safe secured funding from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. ODMHSAS became the governing body over all domestic and sexual violence programs in the State of Oklahoma. The monthly numbers continued rising. Project Safe trained a sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and began to provide advocacy for victim of sexual assault as well.

            Through the years, Project Safe continued to grow and expand. Project Safe began operating a 12 bed emergency shelter for battered women, rape victims and their dependent children. In 2003, Project Safe secured a contract with the City of Shawnee and Central Oklahoma Community Action (COCAA). This contract made Transitional Living services available to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Pottawatomie County. Project Safe, operates the bridge-housing program under the name, Hibbard Home.  In July of 2004, Project Safe received notification of funding form the federal Department of Justice Department of Justice. This future funding will allow Project Safe to expand service into Lincoln County. The opening date for the Lincoln County Satellite office of Project Safe was January 1, 2005.

           Today, Project Safe runs a 16-bed emergency shelter named the "Freedom House", a main office in Shawnee, OK, a satellite office in Chandler, OK and an Adult Sexual Assault Nurse Examination facility.  Thanks to the work and efforts of thousands of volunteers since 1985, Project Safe consistently serves well over 1,500 new clients every year.