A thank you note drawn by a child hangs in the office of the Friendship Home.
“/ had no idea places
like the Friendship
Home existed. When /
walked through the
door that night, I in
tended to be on my way
the next morning. ”
-- Ellen
Shari Rayburn is the executive director
of the Friendship Home. More than 50
years ago, she said, the home began as
a place for women to stay while they were vis
iting their husbands in the state penitentiary.
At that time, the home was run by Catholic
Social Services in Lincoln and was open to
anyone who needed shelter.
In 1978, the Friendship Home was devel
oped as a joint project of the Catholic Social
Services and the Daughters of Charily.
In December 1978, the shelter opened to
receive abused women and children in need of
a safe home. Due to an increased demand for
services, the shelter moved in November 1980
to a larger rented house.
In February 1984, in response to funding
requirements, the Friendship Home was rein
corporated into a non-profit organization
administered by an independent board of direc
tors. Ihey were no longer affiliated with Catho
lic Social Services.
In May 1984, a long-term shelter program
was added to the existing emergency shelter at
the request of the City/County Joint Budget
Committee.
In September 1984. the board of directors
initiated a capital fund drive to purchase and
remodel a permanent facility.
In January 1985, a new house was pur
chased. In July, the Friendship Home moved to
its new location.
The house has six large bedrooms which can
accommodate up to 20 women and children,
Raybum said.
Raybum said the Friendship Home now
provides both emergency shelter and long-term
shelter for battered women and their children.
Women arc referred to the home by the
Rape/Spouse Abuse Center, police, clergy and
friends.
Emergency shelter lasts up to seven days,
providing meals and beds for battered women.
Long Term Shelter was developed to assist
families in breaking the cycle of violence by
giving them extended shelter. It also has ex
panded programs for women and developed
services for children, Rayburn said.
b ami lies can stay up to six weeks depending
on their needs and goals. In long-term shelter,
women work with staff members to set ami
work toward individual goals and participate in
educational workshops.
Children receive individual counseling with
an “in-house” children’s program coordinator
and participate in support groups. The
children’s program was implemented in Au
gust 1987 through a grant from the Junior
League of Lincoln, Raybum said.
About 75 percent of the funds for the Friend
ship Home come from the Nebraska Depart
ment of Social Services, Lancaster County and
the United Way. Raybum said the rest of the
annual budget is generated from private dona
tions.
Photos by Butch Ireland
Stories by Amy Edwards
Layout by Curt Wagner
Supplement to the Daily Nebraskan
. . Wednesday, October 19,1988
