New Life Center, one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the country that is located in the West Valley, announced this week it will open one of the first sexual assault crisis centers in Arizona for victims of rape, sexual violence and human trafficking in May.
The New Life Center Sexual Violence Healing Services Center will operate out of 3826 N. Third St.
Originally constructed as a fire station, the building is a standalone facility with its own parking lot, helping survivors access the location discreetly.
“As a dual service agency, we’re committed to making sure that victims of sexual violence and human trafficking have a designated place to go to receive support,” said Myriah Mhoon, New Life Center CEO. “Not all survivors need shelter services, so this location will allow us to reach a greater demographic of people who need help and guidance through these traumatic situations.”
New Life Center’s sexual assault mobile advocates, human trafficking advocates and prevention and training departments will all operate at this location. Additionally, the center’s partnership with LaFrontera Empact will allow the agency to bring on a trauma healing therapist available for behavioral health needs anywhere from 20 to 40 hours per week.
The building is also a short distance from the Phoenix Family Advocacy Center, the center’s enforcement partner through the city of Phoenix and the city of Phoenix Police Department.
According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, someone in the United States is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds.
Prevalence data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that 43.6% of women, and 24.8% of men in the United States has experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetimes.
Applying those statistics to Maricopa County population data, New Life Center estimates that 757,000 women and 420,380 men in Maricopa County have been victims of sexual assault in their lifetimes.
“Our research shows that three out of four sexual violence crimes are never reported to the police,” said Amy Scanlon, New Life Center outreach director. “With so few sexual assaults being charged, and successfully prosecuted, there leaves a large swath of survivors who likely never engage with formal systems (police, prosecution, medical, etc.) for services, and this is the population gap that Sexual Violence Healing Services Center aims to address.”
Scanlon will manage the Sexual Violence Healing Services Center, which will operate with four full-time employees.
The new center has been partially funded by public grants and private donors, but monetary donations are still needed and can be made at NewLifeCtr.org/Support.
To keep up-to-date with New Life Center, follow it on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about New Life Center and what it is doing in the community, visit NewLifeCtr.org.
