A Year of Impact, Growth, and Hope: Peace Place’s 2025 Year in Review

“As I reflect on the past year at Peace Place, my first and deepest feeling is gratitude.”
— Traci Bledsoe, Executive Director
 
These words from our Executive Director, Traci Bledsoe, perfectly capture the heart of 2025 at Peace Place. As the need for domestic violence services continued to grow, we are deeply grateful for a community that made it possible to respond with compassion and care. Throughout the year, Peace Place provided trauma-informed services designed to meet survivors where they are - offering immediate safety, individualized advocacy, and ongoing support that helps women and children move from crisis to stability and long-term healing. Rooted in dignity, empowerment, and respect, our work ensures survivors are not only safe but fully supported as they rebuild their lives with newfound hope and confidence.
 
Our Impact in 2025: Providing Safety, Support, and Stability
In 2025, Peace Place served 1,471 clients through emergency shelter, advocacy, and supportive services. Within our emergency shelter alone, 106 women and children found safety, accounting for 2,514 bed nights with an average stay of 24 nights. Across all programs, our team delivered 9,274 services, helping survivors navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives while building a foundation for independence and healing.

Each day, $486.54 is needed to operate our emergency shelter, a vital resource that provides survivors and their children have a safe place to begin healing. In addition, $24,104 was distributed in direct client assistance to address critical needs such as transportation, medical expenses, and essential items, removing barriers that often stand in the way of independence and stability. These costs reflect the reality of providing survivor-centered care, and they underscore the continued need for reliable funding to ensure that no survivor is turned away and that vital services remain available when they are needed most.
 
A Community That Makes the Work Possible
Our impact is driven by a community that believes in safety and second chances. In 2025, Peace Place received $234,000 in community donations and $230,000 from Peace Place Thrift Store sales, with 100% of thrift store profits directly supporting our emergency shelter program. Additional support from government grants, private grants, fundraising efforts, and local partnerships ensured that services remained accessible during times of greatest need.
 
Fundraising With Purpose
Community support came to life through signature events such as the Drive Out Domestic Violence Golf Tournament, the Peace Place Gala, and the Foliage Fest 5K. These events raised vital funds while also increasing awareness about domestic violence and the resources available to survivors in our community. Beyond fundraising, they created meaningful opportunities for supporters to engage with our mission, strengthen community partnerships, and stand in solidarity with survivors - reinforcing that ending domestic violence is a shared responsibility. The success of these events reflects a community willing to show up, speak out, and invest in safety and healing.
 
Stories of Strength and Resilience
Behind every statistic is a story of courage. Survivors like Amara and Laura remind us why trauma-informed, survivor-centered services matter.

Amara came to Peace Place determined to rebuild her life. Through consistent engagement with case management and support services, she secured full-time employment, saved toward independence, and ultimately reunited with her children in a safe, stable home.

Laura arrived ready to take control of her future after experiencing isolation and abuse. With targeted assistance, she addressed safety concerns, repaired her vehicle, reconnected with family, and secured employment and housing, creating a fresh start for herself and her children.
 
Volunteers at the Heart of Our Work
In 2025, 195 volunteers contributed 845 hours of service, offering their time, skills, and compassion to support survivors and strengthen our programs. From shelter maintenance to supporting the thrift store and special events, volunteers played a vital role in extending care and stability to those we serve. Volunteer opportunities at Peace Place include childcare support, administrative assistance, and in-kind services such as shelter maintenance, landscaping, cleaning, and organizing spaces. Through both hands-on and supportive roles, volunteers help create safe, welcoming environments.
 
Looking Ahead: A Historic Milestone
One of the most exciting developments of the year is still to come. This spring, Peace Place, Inc. will move into a new emergency shelter, allowing us to serve twice as many women and children. This long-awaited milestone reflects the power of community investment and our shared commitment to creating safer futures. The new shelter will offer expanded space, enhanced privacy, and improved resources designed to better support women and children.

​This transition represents not only growth, but a renewed promise to meet survivors with compassion and unwavering support at a time when the need for domestic violence services across Georgia continues to rise. In a recent statewide, one-day count, domestic violence programs in Georgia served more than 2,000 victims, yet hundreds of additional requests for help went unmet, most often due to limited shelter capacity1. Reported family violence incidents have continued to increase statewide2, underscoring the urgent need for expanded emergency shelter and supportive services. By doubling our shelter capacity, Peace Place will be better positioned to respond to this growing demand and ensure more survivors and their children have access to safety and stability.
 
With Gratitude
To our donors, volunteers, partners, and advocates - thank you. This past year has been one of meaningful impact, growth, and resilience, and none of it would have been possible without your generosity and belief in our mission. Together, we are building a safer, more hopeful future for survivors and their families - and we are deeply grateful for all that was accomplished in 2025 and excited for what the future holds.
 

1. National Network to End Domestic Violence. (2024). 19th annual domestic violence counts report: Georgia summary. National Network to End Domestic Violence.
2. Georgia Commission on Family Violence. (2025). 2024 Annual family violence fact sheet (reporting a 12% increase in family violence incidents from 2023 to 2024). Georgia Commission on Family Violence.