Freedom's Rest, a shelter for victims of sexual and domestic abuse in Christian County, closed on Oct. 1, and then waited three days before publicly announcing its doors were shut.
Freedom's Rest Family Violence Center opened in 1996. It announced its closure by posting an unsigned letter on its Facebook page; that letter raised concern among other southwest Missouri advocates for victims of sexual and domestic assault.
In that letter, the unidentified author states there was a “reduced demand for shelter services in the Ozark area.” Here is a fuller context:
“The decision to close Freedom's Rest Family Violence Center stems from challenges that have emerged over recent years following the COVID-19 pandemic. These include reduced demand for shelter services in the Ozark area due to limited access to public transportation, decreased funding and ongoing staffing difficulties in the post-pandemic environment.
“Additionally, the shelter has grappled with increasing costs related to the operations of the facilities.”
The organization did not even notify Jared Alexander, executive director of Harmony House in Springfield, in advance of the closure.
‘It is going to hurt terribly'
Jamie Willis, director of the Greene County Family Justice Center in Springfield, said she does not believe there is a reduced demand for shelter services in the Ozark area.
“Reduced funding does not reduce demand,” Willis said. “Ongoing staffing issues does not reduce demand.”
Willis said the closure of Freedom's Rest is bad news for victims of sexual and domestic abuse in Christian County and in the Ozarks.
“It is going to hurt terribly,” she said.
According to domesticshelters.org, Freedom's Rest had 61 shelter beds that no longer are available to victims.
“Seventy-five percent of the people who are looking for shelter are not able to find it within the first few phone calls,” Willis said. “There is not a ‘reduced demand.' I am very concerned that if that message goes out it will affect funding for existing shelters. We need more support for survivors who need shelter.”
Harmony House is at capacity
Tammy Sprouse, chairperson of the Freedom's Rest board of directors, is the source quoted in the Freedom's Rest press release. Matthew Ennis, president and CEO of Freedom's Rest since 2017, is not mentioned.
The Hauxeda left multiple messages for Ennis on various platforms, but did not hear from him by deadline Friday. The Daily Citizen also tried to reach Sprouse.
A “reduced demand for shelter services in the Ozark area” does not match what the Hauxeda was told during its 29-story series on domestic violence called Living in Fear, which ran in May and June of 2023.
A host of victims' advocates, including Willis, said the opposite — more shelter space is needed. Alexander, director of Harmony House, said Friday he does not believe there is a reduced demand.
“We get calls from all over the region,” for open beds, Alexander said. Often, there isn't one available.
Harmony House has 168 shelter beds in 41 rooms. The agency tries to keep one family in one room.
Harmony House is a center for victims of domestic and sexual abuse in Springfield.
Alexander talked about capacity at a June roundtable on domestic violence sponsored by the Hauxeda.
“Sometimes we get asked the question, ‘Well, when you’re at capacity, when are you building the next one? Where do you expand to?’ Alexander said at that meeting. “And I continue to say that more beds doesn’t fix the problem. That helps certainly — giving people a place to go that is safe, that they can rebuild their lives in a lot of different ways.”
An email for questions provided, but no one replies
Sprouse, board president of Freedom's Rest, stated in the press release:
“We are incredibly appreciative for the opportunity we've had to invest in southwest Missouri all these years. We will forever be grateful to the many individuals, families, and organizations who've walked beside us in supporting survivors of abuse.”
The press release states that “All questions may be directed by email to media@freedomsrest.org.”
Neither Ennis nor Sprouse responded to questions sent to that email, and they did not respond to other attempts to reach them for clarification.
The press release provided few details as to what led to closure of the Ozark shelter. It does not mention how much funding through the federal American Rescue Plan Act the organization received.
The Springfield Business Journal reported in April 2022 that the Nixa City Council awarded Freedom's Rest $5,750 to assist victims of domestic and sexual violence. The money came through ARPA.
The Daily Citizen was unable to determine by deadline the amount of ARPA money the organization received, if any, from the Christian County Commission.
Harmony House, in Greene County, has received $590,163 in APRA funds following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The three most recent publicly-available 990 tax returns for Freedom's Rest (for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021) offer an improving picture of finances. A 990 tax form must be filed and made public by nonprofits that meet certain IRS thresholds.
*2019 ended $37,947 in the red with support of $409,462.
*2020 ended $35,339 in the black with support of $433,338.
*2021 ended $66,027 in the black with support of $874,504.
The yearly salary for Ennis, CEO and president, rose from $98,976 to $110,652 in those three years.
The Daily Citizen did not have a copy of the most recent 990 for Freedom's Rest, and was unable to talk to anyone with the organization to discuss finances or any financial matters related to the closing.
The Daily Citizen even had to go to an outside source to try to obtain the number of beds in the shelter, 61.
Two thrift stores now owned by Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks
According to the organization's website:
“Since its founding in 1996, Freedom's Rest has been a beacon of hope for individuals and families affected by domestic and sexual violence, having served more than 15,000 survivors and children in need over nearly three decades. Situated in Christian County, the shelter extended its services across an 11-county region in southwest Missouri, with the largest majority of survivors coming from the Springfield/Greene County area.”
In 2004, the organization opened the Neat Repeats Thrift Store as a funding source. The two Neat Repeats stores are now owned by the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.
The press release further stated:
“The closure announcement was delayed to protect the safety of clients and the facility. Following the vote by the board of directors to close the facility, Freedom's Rest staff worked with clients in the shelter over a period of time to secure safe housing and resources.”
Those impacted by domestic or sexual violence can find help and resources by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE or by chat online at www.thehotline.org.
For the Living in Fear series, the Daily Citizen compiled a comprehensive list of resources and help for victims of domestic violence.
