Boise, ID – January 18, 2024 –Faces of Hope Meridian set to open January 25, 2024.
Faces of Hope is pleased to announce the long-awaited opening of its Meridian location on Thursday, January 25. The Meridian office will provide access to counseling, case management, and legal support services for crisis victims escaping an abusive situation.
Faces of Hope Meridian will make these services more accessible to victims who reside in Meridian, Kuna, Star, Eagle, and west Boise. This office will also house Hope’s Closet and a new Diaper Bank location. Forensic exams and medical intake will only be available at the Ada County Victim Center located at 417 S. 6th Street in downtown Boise, while the support services at Faces of Hope Meridian will be available Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. A blue light phone outside the office will allow victims to reach emergency services after hours.
As the number of victims coming to Faces of Hope grows, it is essential Faces of Hope provides accessible services to someone working through crisis caused by abuse. Victims needing trauma-informed counseling and other services simply can’t afford to travel a great distance. Their safety and well-being depend on immediate access to care along with tools that support recovery and a healthy, safe, empowered future.
With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men becoming a victim in their lifetime, the organization knows there are many who miss out on our services because they don’t know Faces of Hope is here, free, and has resources available immediately.
Faces of Hope’s team includes advocates, case managers, crisis counselors, and an attorney who work together to provide help, hope, and healing to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, human trafficking, child abuse, and stalking.
• Advocates meet victims and help determine what services the client needs. Advocates
provide emergency services such as housing, clothing, new prescription glasses, lock
changes, unmonitored cell phones, transportation, and food.
• Counselors meet with clients for 4-8 weeks to help a client heal. They offer trauma-informed
counseling to help victims process and overcome emotional abuse.
• Our attorney, along with the University of Idaho legal clinic, supports clients’ legal needs; helping them with family law issues and civil protection orders.
• Case managers connect victims with tangible community resources to help them become self-reliant, independent, and free.
The services Faces of Hope provides make a difference. A recent client told us, “My crisis counselor talked me off the ledge more times than I think she even realizes. She’s gone above and beyond just to make me feel supported and to have someone to talk to and just be there for me the whole time.”
“Faces of Hope has grown immensely to ensure we can help every victim who reaches out for help,” said Paige Dinger, Executive Director of Faces of Hope. “Half of our clients live in west Ada County and those residents deserve better, easier access to services that can help them move forward with tools that give them help, hope, and healing.”
“We are pleased that Faces of Hope Meridian will provide the supporting services to the residents of Ada County to help ensure the ongoing safety of abuse victims as they work through trauma,” said Meridian Mayor Robert Simison.
“I am truly honored to represent Faces of Hope as we expand our services to West Ada County. Studies show that it takes seven times on average for a victim to leave their abusive situation. Faces of Hope can best support victims and reduce the number of times they return by improving access to care,” said Joie McGarvin, Faces of Hope board president. “Faces of Hope Meridian is going to provide access to more people in need of support.”
*Forensic exams will only be available at the Ada County Victim Center located at 417 S. 6th Street in downtown Boise.
History of Faces of Hope
In 2016, Faces of Hope Foundation launched with the mission to reduce victimization with a safety net of crisis services. Specifically, Faces of Hope helps those affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, human trafficking, and stalking.
Faces of Hope introduced a counseling program in 2018, a legal program in 2020, and case management in 2021. In 2018, Faces of Hope began funding the University of Idaho Family Justice Clinic providing law students the opportunity to develop legal skills while providing free legal assistance to survivors of interpersonal violence.
Faces of Hope is relocating its main office outside of the Ada County Victim Center and will announce its new location in coming weeks. The organization remains committed to its partnerships and will continue providing the community resources that support victims’ emergent medical, legal, safety, social, and educational needs.
Starting January 25, 2024, Faces of Hope Meridian will be open at: 1850 S. Eagle Rd, Suite 100, Meridian, ID 83642 from M-F, 8am-5pm.
Photo credit: Idaho Tourism
