Family Justice Center reports rise in survivors served; food pantry and county risk assessment cited

The Family Justice Center told the Sherwood City Council on May 6 that it served 7,200 survivors and provided 11,691 individual services in 2024, and credited a countywide risk-assessment rollout and expanded food pantry with improving outreach and survivor safety.

Rachel, a Family Justice Center presenter, said the center has seen consistent year-over-year increases in both services offered and people served. “Our services have increased, and the number of people that we are seeing increases,” she said.

The center’s report said Washington County adopted a unified risk assessment that responding law‑enforcement officers now use during domestic‑violence calls; results are shared with jails, release officers, courts and district attorneys to inform supervision and release decisions. Rachel said that effort coincided with an “80% reduction in homicides in Washington County” that year tied to family‑violence interventions.

Staff and councilors said the report matters because domestic violence is a major driver of homelessness and other social problems, and because coordinated, evidence‑based responses can shorten survivors’ paths to safety. “Escaping domestic violence … is the number one driver of homelessness,” Rachel said when councilors asked about links to shelter and supportive housing work.

Details from the center’s presentation: - The center provided 11,691 services to survivors in 2024 and served 7,200 unique survivors. Rachel said 346 survivors used the center for court appearances instead of going to the county courthouse, and 701 after‑hours crisis calls were routed to partner crisis lines. - Survivor experience measures: 994 survivors reported receiving trauma‑informed care; the center reported 100% of surveyed survivors said they received the help needed to keep their family safe and that staff cared for both survivors and their children; 89.2% reported they could see “a path towards safety, healing, and hope” after their visit. - Food pantry: the center distributed almost 23,000 pounds of food in 2024. Rachel said the pantry is run as a survivor‑only, unadvertised site (people may return as often as needed) and that, prior to a recent pause in USDA‑funded access, the center was receiving about 1,100 pounds per week; that temporarily fell to about 300 pounds per week and triggered community food drives to cover the gap. Rachel estimated the pantry served roughly 200–250 people per month. - Outreach and peer support: a survivor advisory committee conducted community outreach; a peer outreach member who lives in Sherwood helped increase local visibility through tabling at events and school/resource fairs. - Sherwood‑specific usage: Rachel reported that for the current reporting window the center recorded 21 survivors who identified Sherwood as their community and received 35 services, a 17% increase over the prior year for people who identified Sherwood. - Operations and facilities: the center’s operating budget for the year is $1,300,000. Staff count is eight (two temporary). The presenter said the center expects to move into a new facility in January with a planned grand opening in April and that the name will change to the Family Peace Center when the new location opens.

Councilors asked for more data and for outreach help. Councilor Taylor and other councilors offered the Sherwood newsletter, the senior center, the Sherwood Library and the Share Center as local distribution points for printed materials. Rachel said she would share longer‑term impact data with the council and follow up on placing materials at suggested community locations.

No formal council action was taken; the presentation was informational. The council and staff discussed possible coordination between the Family Justice Center and city and county efforts to prevent homelessness and to direct survivors to shelter and supportive services.

The presentation also noted partnerships with law enforcement, the courts and district attorneys and cited community events and donor support, including a flag presented by Senator Jeff Merkley that flew over the U.S. Capitol and community fundraising events.

The council’s next step is continued coordination: staff and the Family Justice Center will exchange data and outreach contacts and the council directed staff to ensure city distribution points are stocked with the center’s materials.