The plan to establish a Slidell-based shelter for battered women is slowly moving forward thanks to some dedicated Rotarians and other members of the community.

Once home to Safe Harbor, a nonprofit organization dedicated to victims of abuse and their families, the area has been without a dedicated facility since the agency was forced to relocate in 2007. The Caring Center, also located in Slidell, provides housing to homeless women and children, and while it has housed some escaping the threat of domestic violence, the center generally tries to refer such families elsewhere.

The idea first surfaced last June when Vicky Magas was installed as the 2008-2009 president of Rotary of Slidell. The issue is a personal one for Magas, as a member of her family has struggled in an abusive relationship for several years. She vowed to do everything she could to see a new local program established and quickly enlisted the help of Dr. Joan Archer, as well as Rotary Rebuilds.

The coalition of members from both Slidell Rotary clubs has made a generous donation that will help the group establish an office to serve as administrative headquarters for the program.

“We’re now looking for a building that will be our administrative office, help us do group work with women, provide counseling and so on,” said Archer. “We’re real fortunate that Rotary Rebuilds has been so generous because it will help us get an office free and clear.”

From there, the team will move toward establishing a shelter facility.

One is planned on the western side of the parish that will house up to 150 people and serve several parishes in the region. While that facility is envisioned to meet long-term housing needs, Archer said there’s no reason the two shelters could not work together.

“I see ours as sort of a crisis response unit, while that one will be more transitional in nature,” she said. “It makes sense that we might work in concert with one another.”

A fundraiser for the Slidell shelter is planned for June to feature world-renowned pianist Ronnie Kole.

Called “An Evening with Kole,” it will be held at the St. Margaret Mary Church Founders Building and feature a silent auction and dinner.

Archer is elated the program may soon have a physical structure in which to begin operations.

“We’ve come a long way from just having an idea to being hard at work, looking for a building,” she said. “Rotary has been a wonderful blessing; they really picked up the ball and ran with it.”