COLUMBUS, Ohio - April 20, 2022 - Sanctuary Night is announcing a new time and date for the public ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new building located at 1195 Sullivant Ave., in Columbus, Ohio. The official dedication of Sanctuary Night’s new building will now be held at 1195 Sullivant Avenue, on Tuesday May 17, 2022 at 3:30pm.

At 2:30pm, Sanctuary Night will also host a walk-through tour for interested members of the media and provide interview opportunities with Sanctuary Night leadership and staff. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was originally set to be held in January 2022, but was delayed due to unexpected construction delays and rising COVID-19 numbers in our community.

Avenue since 2017 and are thrilled to announce the opening of our new building. Sanctuary Night operated one night a week from 2017-2021. In 2022, we hired a team of Peer Support Specialists, trafficking survivors and other formerly vulnerable women, and began increasing our hours. With the opening of our new building, we will continue to increase our hours and will become the first 24/7 drop-in center for vulnerable women in the state.

For details or an interview:

Heather Mohrman, Board Chair, Sanctuary Night

614-570-6004, heather@sanctuarynight.com

*We resist using common terminology (sex work, sex trafficking, prostitution) out of respect for the beautiful and complicated women who walk our streets and who may or may not identify with these terms.

Dear Friends,

I write today with a full heart.

First, last week I reached out and offered a video tour of the building. I also let you know that we have some major grants coming, but the checks have not arrived yet. Because of that, we were in a transition spot where our cashflow was down.

Our community responded without hesitation. The message went out without any pomp and circumstance— just an email to you all, a social media post, and word-of-mouth, but the message carried. Over $15,000 came in from over 30 individuals and organizations in about three days.

During that same stretch of time, we received our interim certification from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. What’s this mean? We have crossed a major step and are formally en route to being able to bill Medicaid for reimbursement for services provided at our drop-in center.

We will always be an organization sustained through the generosity of individuals and organizations, but one key step in our long-term financial health and sustainability is also being able to bill Medicaid.

So many gifts, and personal notes of love and care, came in from friends near and far, meeting a need today; our interim OHMAS certification is an essential part of meeting needs as we go forward; and all of it, every last dollar, advances the mission of our organization.

Sanctuary Night is a sacred space serving vulnerable women* who need a place to rest, eat, connect, and get desired resources. It is a vibrant community led by survivors and champions to promote the flourishing of all who sit at our table.

Thank you for your support.

-Hannah Estabrook, Executive Director

* We resist using common terminology (sex work, sex trafficking, prostitution) out of respect for the beautiful and complicated women who walk our streets and who may or may not identify with these terms.

Friends,

We’ve painted the walls and hung the cabinets. Under the fresh paint in the living room are notes — handwritten sobriety dates, song lyrics, and notes of love and care — put there by our hardworking Peer Support Specialists, who are themselves survivors.

Life at Sanctuary Night is going 100 mph these days. Because of our new staff and ever-faithful volunteers, we are open more hours than ever before. We’re building relationships and are in the process of establishing ourselves in the new building, which is nearly ready for occupancy.

Our days are filled with great joy.

It is also true that we are feeling the pinches and pressures of our current transition into the new building. We will soon be receiving several large grants. They are in process of being issued, but they are not here yet. And in the meantime, we have bills to pay.

Early March isn’t the scheduled date for any fundraiser or special event. Right now is just a moment when our cash flow is a little slow, and it’s a big transitional moment for us.

If you have a little extra cash flow this month, would you consider donating to Sanctuary Night?

With thanks, love, and care,

Hannah Estabrook, Executive Director