How Sojourner Center Helped Strengthen Access to Safety During the Maricopa County Centralized Referral Line Transition
When the centralized domestic violence shelter hotline in Maricopa County recently closed, one thing remained clear: survivors cannot experience gaps in safety.
System transitions can create uncertainty, but they can also reveal the strength of a community coming together with urgency and purpose. During this change, Sojourner Center plays a critical role in helping ensure survivors on waitlists continue to have pathways to safety and support.
Working alongside community partners, our team supports survivors navigating the transition, with a focus on minimizing disruption and ensuring those seeking shelter do not feel lost in the process. Through thoughtful coordination, direct outreach, and strengthened response efforts, we remain focused on what matters most, connecting survivors and their children to safety.
At the heart of this effort is our 24/7 Crisis Line and Advocate Team.
Sojourner Center strengthened our hotline response capacity so we could be ready to answer the call. Our trained advocates are prepared to respond with compassion, crisis support, safety planning, and direct access to shelter when available. For survivors reaching out in one of the hardest moments of their lives, a caring voice and an immediate connection to support can make all the difference.
As one of the largest domestic violence shelter providers in Maricopa County, Sojourner Center operates 30% of the emergency shelter beds dedicated to survivors of domestic violence and their children in the county. That capacity, paired with a highly responsive hotline team, positions us to play a meaningful role in the safety net survivors rely on.
This moment has also reminded us of something we know to be true: safety is not created by a single phone line or a single organization. It is built through a network of advocates, shelters, partners, and communities committed to ensuring no survivor faces abuse alone.
At Sojourner Center, we are proud to be part of that network.
Our doors remain open. Our hotline is ready. Our advocates are answering the call.
Because when systems change, our commitment does not.
If you or someone you know needs support, Sojourner Center’s 24/7 Crisis Line is here to help: 602-244-0089. Get help here.