All posts by Linley Beckbridge

Doorways to Launch “SafeStart” Initiative with $1.5M Federal Community Development Grant

New initiative will increase shelter and housing for survivors of abuse in Arlington

8 March 2024 – Arlington, VA – Doorways is set to receive $1.5 million in federal funding for SafeStart, a new initiative to increase the nonprofit’s shelter and housing for survivors and their families. SafeStart is one of only 15 projects sponsored by U.S. Congressman Don Beyer this fiscal year. 

Congressman Beyer secured funding for Doorways’ SafeStart through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which supports community development activities to build stronger and more resilient communities. “The $1,500,000 in federal funding I secured for Doorways will support the purchase of emergency housing units for low-income individuals and families experiencing sudden homelessness due to domestic or sexual violence,” said Congressman Beyer. “Amidst the lingering impacts of COVID and rising rent costs, our community has seen an increase in survivors and families fleeing imminent danger in their homes, straining Doorways’ ability to provide crucial services to them.” 

As Arlington’s only provider of safehousing for individuals and families who are homeless due to fleeing domestic and sexual violence, Doorways has been on the frontlines responding to the growing need. The CDBG funding creates the opportunity for Doorways to expand its capacity to serve more survivors. 

“In the last five years, the number of survivors and their children sheltered by Doorways has more than doubled,” said Doorways’ President and CEO Diana Ortiz, LPC, M.Ed. “Meanwhile, sources of funding including the federal Victims of Crime Act, or VOCA, have decreased significantly. We are grateful to Congressman Beyer for prioritizing survivors and helping Doorways secure the additional units we need to continue fulfilling our promise of safehousing for all.” 

“The number of survivors and their children sheltered by Doorways has more than doubled.”

Doorways’ SafeStart project and the repurposing of its Family Home shelter, a project slated for this summer and fall, are part of the agency’s broader strategy to expand and strengthen its safehousing infrastructure to meet the Arlington community’s growing needs. 

“This funding will provide Doorways with much needed assistance to continue protecting victims and survivors, including through supporting them as they work towards achieving the goal of stable, safe, and long-term housing,” said Congressman Beyer. “I am thankful to the leaders at Doorways for their support identifying and developing this project request and their steadfast commitment to helping survivors of violence heal and thrive.” 

Funds awarded to Doorways through CDBG must be matched one-to-one by the Arlington community. To learn more about Doorways and how to support survivors, visit www.doorwaysva.org  

About Doorways

Since 1978, Doorways has provided Arlington’s only emergency shelter for survivors of intimate partner violence. Today, Doorways’ dual state-accredited response to domestic and sexual violence includes community-based, shelter, and housing programs, as well as youth-driven prevention programing which empowers young people to stop abuse before it starts.  

Marla Carter Honored for Transformative Leadership at Doorways

CBIZ Announces Honorees for Fourth Annual Women Transforming Business Awards

Powered by CBIZ Women’s Advantage, the Awards honor visionary leaders throughout the nation.

CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE: CBZ), a leading national provider of financial, insurance, and advisory services, has announced the honorees of its fourth annual Women Transforming Business Awards powered by CBIZ Women’s Advantage. Honorees for these awards are being announced today in celebration of International Women’s Day.

The awards celebrate leaders nationwide acknowledging their significant contributions in five key categories: financial strength, innovation, culture, community impact, and the newest addition, emerging leader.

“The Women Transforming Business Awards recognize current and future leaders in multiple industries who are making a difference and impact in their organizations and communities,” said Jerry Grisko, President and CEO of CBIZ. “Each honoree shows the spirit of innovation, resilience and compassion, inspiring others to strive for excellence and drive positive and transformational change.”

Doorways is proud to share that the agency’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Marla Carter, SHRM-SCP, has been selected as an honoree in the Culture category. As a key member of Doorways’ leadership team, Carter directs the organization’s comprehensive human resources strategy. With more than 15 years of experience in the field, she is passionate about supporting people’s personal growth and development, and cultivating a culture of belonging, diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

“By recognizing the invaluable contributions of these leaders, we can celebrate their achievements and pave the way for future generations. Congratulations to this impressive group of honorees,” said Lori Novickis, National Leader of CBIZ Women’s Advantage.

Carter and her fellow honorees will be celebrated at a free virtual awards event on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 1 p.m. ET. For more information and to register for the event, visit the Women Transforming Business Awards page.

About Doorways

Since 1978, Doorways has provided Arlington’s only emergency shelter for survivors of intimate partner violence. Today, Doorways’ dual state-accredited response to domestic and sexual violence includes community-based, shelter, and housing programs, as well as youth-driven prevention programing which empowers young people to stop abuse before it starts. For more information, visit https://www.doorwaysva.org

About Marla Carter

Before joining Doorways, Marla Carter spent more than 13 years overseeing many aspects of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’(NFWF) Human Resources Department. At NFWF, Carter held many HR positions, including Manager and Senior HR Manager. In her last position, she served as the organization’s first Director of Diversity and Inclusion. She has also worked with small businesses as an HR consultant. Additionally, Carter is the founding president of The Compass Rose Foundation, a program dedicated to the mentorship of under-represented youth. Carter earned her bachelor’s degree in business management from Hampton University and is a Senior Certified Professional with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP). 

About CBIZ, Inc.

CBIZ is a leading provider of financial, insurance, and advisory services to businesses throughout the United States. Financial services include accounting, tax, government health care consulting, transaction advisory, risk advisory, and valuation services. Insurance services include employee benefits consulting, retirement plan consulting, property and casualty insurance, payroll, and human capital consulting. With more than 120 offices in 32 states, CBIZ is one of the largest accounting and insurance brokerage providers in the U.S. For more information, visit https://www.cbiz.com.

Q&A: Why are more survivors seeking shelter at Doorways?

Q: I was just looking at Doorways’ recent press release and I was surprised by how many more survivors Doorways sheltered last year compared to previous years. I was wondering if you could provide any more context on these numbers. The press release notes that the community’s needs are increasing. In what ways are they increasing? What seems to be the cause of this trend in more survivors seeking shelter at Doorways?

A: Domestic violence has increased in both frequency and severity. As the only provider of emergency shelter for survivors in imminent danger – called safehousing – Doorways has been at the front lines responding to the growing need for safehousing (please see chart). We are responding to survivors’ needs by reinventing ourselves. With our community’s support, we are increasing, improving, and transforming the way we serve survivors, including expanding our safehousing capacity.

Doorways’ safehousing provides emergency shelter and services to survivors and their children who are in imminent danger or imminent risk, which means there is a threat and likelihood that serious harm or death could occur within a short time due to intimate partner violence. In 2022, according to the Danger Assessment, 80% of adults who came into Doorways’ safehousing program were at a high level of lethality risk.

We believe these to be among the top contributing factors:

  • Crisis: We know that intimate partner violence increases in times of crisis, from worldwide crises like climate change, to individual crises like job loss and eviction. The COVID-19 pandemic led to intensified domestic violence across the globe, including here in Arlington. Survivors were isolated at home with those who harmed them, unable to access supports like friends, family members, and healthcare. The stressors of the pandemic, including economic impacts, also escalated abuse. Once quarantines were lifted and survivors were able to seek services, the increase in need for Doorways’ safehousing grew rapidly.
  • Increased Cost of Living: Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness, especially among women and children. As Arlington becomes increasingly unaffordable, more people are on the brink of crisis – which contributes to stress factors that escalate abusive behaviors – and when crisis occurs, they need somewhere safe to go. Survivors’ number one need is housing, and for families, childcare is also a necessity. Both housing and childcare are extremely expensive in Arlington, and survivors with children need both.
  • Increased Awareness: Through outreach and collaboration with our Project PEACE and community partners, Doorways promotes our hotline to make our services as accessible as possible to survivors in crisis. The more people know that help is available, the more likely survivors are to reach out and be connected to Doorways’ programs.

Doorways’ safehousing is accessible via our 24/7 hotline, 703-237-0881, which is also the only hotline in Arlington. Doorways’ 24-Hour Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline provides information, support, safety planning, and referrals to safehousing and services such as hospital accompaniments for forensic exams, Doorways’ Revive mental health counseling, and community-based advocacy. We encourage anyone who is experiencing intimate partner violence, or knows someone who is experiencing abuse, to call Doorways’ hotline for information and support. You are not alone.

Doorways’ 2023 Annual Report Highlights Comprehensive Response to Increasing Need for Shelter and Services

Doorways is a community-based nonprofit providing trauma-informed services including safe shelter, housing, and life-changing support to individuals and families experiencing the traumas of domestic violence, sexual assault, and homelessness. As Arlington’s only fully and dually state-accredited agency serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence, Doorways offers a wide range of crisis response services and comprehensive shelter and housing programs designed to meet survivors’ needs.

“Fulfilling this promise has never been more pressing,” writes Diana Ortiz, M.Ed., LPC, Doorways’ President and CEO, in the organization’s 2023 report. “Only five years ago, Doorways’ Safehouse sheltered 58 survivors. Last year alone, that number was 135 survivors—more than double the total in 2018. And more than half of those 135 survivors were children.”

“Our community’s needs are increasing and changing rapidly,” Ortiz continues. “Survivors told us what they need. Doorways listened. We are responding by reinventing ourselves. With your support, we are increasing, improving, and transforming the way we serve survivors.

Q&A: Why are more survivors seeking shelter at Doorways?

In addition to providing emergency shelter, called safehousing, to a record-high number of survivors, Doorways’ 2023 response to domestic and sexual violence included:

  • 1,411 hotline calls, through which Doorways provided safety planning, crisis support, information, and referral services;
  • 29 hospital accompaniments for survivors undergoing sexual assault and domestic violence forensic exams;
  • Court advocacy for 360 adults and children navigating legal pathways to safety;
  • Community-based mobile advocacy for 50 adults, including safety planning and case management;
  • Mental health counseling for 236 adults, youth, and children impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and
  • Supportive housing for 129 adults and children.

Read Doorways’ 2023 annual report to learn more. Click the white arrow > below to flip pages.

ARLnow: Arlington nonprofits achieve Giving Tuesday goals, but donor participation concerns linger

As the need for our services escalates, and the cost to provide those services rises, we will need more support from our community in this pivotal time of year.

Arlington nonprofits achieve Giving Tuesday goals, but donor participation concerns linger
by James Jarvis

“Linley Beckbridge, director of Communications and Advocacy at Doorways, which provides shelter to survivors of domestic violence, says the number of adults and children they have checked into the shelter has doubled within the last five years.

‘Domestic violence is on the rise,’ Beckbridge said. ‘As Arlington’s only provider of safehousing — emergency shelter for survivors and their children in imminent danger due to domestic violence — it is critical that Doorways expands our capacity to meet the growing need.'”

Read more on ARLnow.

14 Places to Volunteer with Kids and Teens

For more ways kids and teens can kid involved with Doorways’ mission, please check out our Kids’ Corner!

14 Places to Volunteer with Kids and Teens
Arlington Magazine, November 27, 2023, Stephanie Kanowitz

Doorways: Concerned Arlington residents started Doorways in 1978 as a safe haven for families in crisis. The organization provides shelter, with a mission of helping people find a way out of homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault. Although all in-person volunteer activities have a minimum age of 18, there are ways young ones can get involved. Twice a year, Doorways invites volunteers to sponsor a child—once before school starts, when you can help provide back-to-school supplies, and during the winter holidays, when you’re invited to make wishes come true for kids in need. Check the website for when sponsorship forms become available.

Arlington Magazine Guide to Giving 2023

Arlington Magazine Guide to Giving 2023
November 10, 2023 Arlington Magazine

The following organizations are based in Northern Virginia and provide critical services to the immediate community. Many thanks to the Arlington Community Foundation for its help in compiling this resource.

Doorways 

Every day, thousands of adults, youth and children in Arlington suffer the impacts of domestic violence and sexual assault. Intimate partner violence is a leading cause of homelessness, especially among women and families. As Arlington’s only provider of emergency shelter, services and supportive housing for survivors and their families, Doorways has in recent years seen a dramatic increase in those requiring emergency shelter to escape harm. The nonprofit is expanding its capacity to meet this growing need while also maintaining a full spectrum response to domestic and sexual violence, from prevention programming for youth to community-based services and supportive housing.

What a donation can do:

❱❱ $250 provides a play- or art-based therapy session for a child healing from the impacts of domestic violence.

❱❱ $500 supports a family graduating from Doorways’ shelter to its HomeStart supportive housing program by funding essentials like a new bed and kitchen supplies.

❱❱ $1,000 provides one week of emergency shelter in safe housing for a survivor escaping domestic violence.

Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers 18 or older who have graduated from high school are needed to assist with shelter coverage, children’s activities, interpretation, administrative support and fundraising. Individuals working directly with clients must complete at least 40 hours of training and a background check. Community groups, including youth and children, can help by organizing collection drives and fundraisers.

See also Arlington Magazine’s complete November-December 2023 issue.

Community and Accessibility at Doorways

“October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), an important time to highlight the issue of domestic violence and its effects on victims, survivors, families, and communities. Everyone deserves to have access to a community where people live free of violence and have safe and stable housing. We caught up with Linley Beckbridge, Director of Marketing & Communications and Advocacy at Doorways to discuss the importance of accessibility in your community.” Read more from Recite Me.

Avery Park Receives Eagle Scout Rank

One of first females in country to achieve status

By Shirley Ruhe, Arlington Connection

Avery Park from Arlington is one of the first females in the country to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. She says usually it takes 7 years to achieve Eagle Scout status but she did it in four. She chose to organize the fifth floor storage space for Doorways and develop an online tracking system as her Eagle Scout project. “I knew I wanted to do something to support women and children.”

Continue reading in the Arlington Connection.

Darius Martin shares new single about domestic violence, partners with Doorways to support survivors

Darius Martin is thrilled to amplify awareness and generate funds with his new single, “Sparks Don’t Fly”

“R&B meets pop sensation Darius Martin releases the new single ‘Sparks Don’t Fly’ featuring Latin singer-songwriter Shantal Vella. The single is a powerful profile on the damaging effects of abusive relationships, offering an intimate window inside the emotional toll it takes on two hearts.

Teaming up with the esteemed non-profit, Doorways, and ahead of October Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Darius Martin is thrilled to amplify awareness and generate funds with his new single, ‘Sparks Don’t Fly’. Serving the Arlington, Virginia, community, Doorways extends comprehensive support to survivors, providing housing, counseling, court advocacy, and more. With a 24/7 hotline and a robust community outreach program, Doorways stands firmly with survivors. Darius Martin is proud to drive impactful change with this new release.

‘Sparks Don’t Fly’ blends melodic cascades of percussion with an emotive vocal symphony shared between Darius Martin and Shantal Vella. Over subtle, refined beats, ‘Sparks Don’t Fly’ will immerse you in a lyrically tender narrative, bringing awareness towards domestic violence. Darius Martin admits, ‘I wanted people who have been in abusive relationships to know they’re not alone.'” Continue reading.

“Sparks Don’t Fly” is written about domestic violence in hopes of showing listeners that they are never alone

“Darius Martin is a Los Angeles based artist who fuses elements of pop and R&B into his sonics while crafting powerful narratives that resonate with day-to-day life. His newly released single, “Sparks Don’t Fly” featuring Shantal Vella, is written about domestic violence in hopes of showing listeners that they are never alone. Martin is partnering with Doorways, an organization based in Arlington, Virginia that provides resources and support for survivors.” Continue reading.