Tucked away in a cul-de-sac on San Francisco’s Treasure Island is a new transitional housing facility for women who are victims of violent crimes.
On Thursday, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins stood outside the building announcing the official launch of the Project Restore pilot program, which gives women victims a place to live and receive support for up to six months.
Jenkins said that women who are victims of crimes like domestic violence may not have a safe place to go in order to get away from perpetrators or living situations that could get them into more danger.
“This project was our way to try to fill in that gap of providing women with somewhere that is stable, somewhere that is safe, somewhere that feels like home for a much longer period of time — upwards of six months to allow them the time that they often need in order to deal with the trauma that they just endured,” she said in a speech.
Project Restore is using several apartment units on Treasure Island that are currently able to house up to 10 women. The pilot is part of Jenkins’ Access to Hope Initiative aimed at disrupting cycles of violence and victimization as a complement to prosecutorial efforts.
In the past, the DA’s office has typically tried supporting women victims by providing hotel vouchers for a few days or shelter access.
“That was the most that funding would afford,” Jenkins said. “And many women resist going to shelters because they often feel more compromised and less safe.”
Chris Larsen, a billionaire philanthropist and investor, has donated $1 million to the project.
Most of his donation will go toward supporting Five Keys, the organization that is operating the housing facilities and providing support for the women who stay at Project Restore. Five Keys runs a transitional housing program known as Home Free.
“We have seen firsthand what becomes possible when we all come together, giving housing,” said Sunny Schwartz, founder of Five Keys, in a speech. “Women do not have to sleep with one eye open.”
The Victim Services Division of the District Attorney’s Office can evaluate and refer women to Project Restore. Once they are placed in one of the homes, they are provided with case management and mentorship from Five Keys.
The program soft-launched in February with five women. Several months into the program, the Victim Services Division and Five Keys say they are seeing successful outcomes.
“There have been women here who have come very traumatized and have displayed behaviors that probably could have landed them in more trouble,” said District Attorney’s Office chief of staff Monifa Willis in an interview. “But due to the mentorship of the women that are actually coming through the Home Free program, they were able to convince them to make better choices.”
Project Restore will consider expanding its capacity based on the metrics from its ongoing pilot program.
“Right now, this pilot is going so well,” Jenkins said. “We’re already seeing the impacts of the work.”
