New Life Center, which started in an eight-bed abandoned dormitory in Litchfield Park, is now one of the largest stand-alone domestic violence shelters in Arizona. Here, Kate Thoene, chief strategy officer, discusses New Life Center’s origin story, its greatest challenges, and how readers can get involved.
What is the mission of New Life Center? From its humble origins as an emergency refuge for West Valley survivors of violence, NLC has intentionally evolved into a statewide leader in emergency shelter and outreach support – all while remaining rooted in its mission of eliminating domestic and sexual violence through support services, education, and expertise. Through this impactful mission, NLC ensures safe, stable communities so that all have a safe place to call home.
What prompted the start of the nonprofit? When New Life Center opened in 1991 in an abandoned dormitory hidden away on the grounds of a popular resort in Litchfield Park, it was the first domestic violence shelter in the West Valley. The donated, makeshift space – lovingly refurbished by volunteers and community donors – offered eight beds and, most importantly, safety and compassion for families fleeing their homes as victims of domestic violence. Three decades later, New Life Center has grown into one of the largest stand-alone domestic violence shelters in Arizona with 104 beds.
What is the greatest reward in being involved with the nonprofit? The greatest reward in being involved with New Life Center is the profound impact we have on the lives of individuals and communities. Seeing the transformation in those we serve—providing vital resources to survivors of domestic violence and helping them to build a safer future—fills me with a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment. Every day, we have the opportunity to contribute to something larger than ourselves, driving positive change and offering hope where it’s needed most. This meaningful work, coupled with the collective effort of an amazing, dedicated team, makes every challenge worth it and every success deeply rewarding.
What is the biggest challenge the nonprofit faces? A major challenge in our state is the pervasiveness and effects of domestic violence. New Life Center is critically aware of this and is working to provide safety and resources to as many families as possible. We know that domestic violence is not just a women’s issue; it’s a community issue. Highlighting this reality are staggering statistics, including the fact that Arizona has the fifth-highest domestic violence rate in the United States, with about 42.6 percent of women and 33.4 percent of men experiencing intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking (World Population Review, 2023 Report).
Using a trauma-informed model, NLC’s emergency shelter provides refuge and essential services for approximately 350 adult and child survivors escaping from varying forms of violence each year, including human trafficking. Services are offered to Maricopa County residents from all backgrounds. In addition to emergency shelter, NLC offers wrap-around services to help survivors stabilize and begin their journey free from violence.
What are your goals for the remainder of the year? Our facility is almost always at capacity and after 21 years of use, our buildings and grounds need to be refreshed, repaired, and updated. Our goal is to raise funds that will enable us to enhance our emergency shelter so families can reside in a space that is inviting, functional and inspiring.
Tell us about Hope’s Closet. Hope’s Closet is a social enterprise thrift store owned and operated by New Life Center which serves two crucial purposes for our work with domestic violence survivors. First, every child and adult seeking refuge at New Life Center’s emergency shelter has access to all the clothing and furnishings offered at the store completely free of charge. This is to ensure families’ basic needs are met while they are residing in shelter and upon their exit from our facility. Second, all proceeds from Hope’s Closet are used to support New Life Center’s shelter operations.
How can readers help? The work at New Life Center is possible through the incredible generosity of our community. We need financial donations to support our operations, donated items for those residing at our emergency shelter, and volunteers to help us at our social enterprise thrift store, Hope’s Closet. If readers would like to learn more, they can visit www.newlifectr.org/get-involved.
Does New Life Center have any events or fundraisers on the horizon? Members of the community who want to support our work can make a monthly financial contribution to New Life Center. This helps us serve as many survivors and families who are impacted by sexual violence, domestic violence, and human trafficking as possible. Signing up is as easy as selecting your donation frequency when you give online at www.newlifectr.org.