Marjaree Mason Center
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The Marjaree Mason Center is a non-profit, shelter-based, domestic violence program headquartered in Fresno, California. Named for an Easton, California woman who was murdered by her boyfriend, the center operates one of the largest shelters in California.
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[edit] History
The Marjaree Mason Center was founded in 1979 by the YWCA-Fresno after the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Marjaree Mason. A victim of domestic violence, Mason was killed by her boyfriend, a Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputy.
The center started with a group of volunteers staffing an emergency hotline for victims of domestic violence, while a few rooms at the YWCA Residence Hall became specifically designated for women and their children fleeing from domestic violence. Over time, the services of the YWCA-Fresno increasingly focused on domestic violence and gradually discontinued most other programs until the organization focused almost exclusively on domestic violence.
In 1998, the YWCA-Fresno Board of Directors voted to end a 94-year affiliation with the National YWCA, and the Marjaree Mason Center became a stand-alone domestic violence agency.
Still headquartered in Fresno’s historic Einstein Home, the home of the YWCA’s old administrative offices, the center operates a variety of services from several locations in Fresno County.
[edit] Services
Most Marjaree Mason Center services are offered to victims of domestic violence and their children, though some shelter services are intended for homeless women and batterer’s intervention programs are intended for domestic violence offenders.
[edit] Shelter
The Marjaree Mason Center operates four shelters in Fresno County. Three of them are confidentially located domestic violence shelters, while the fourth caters to homeless women. The three domestic violence shelters house only women believed to be victims of domestic violence and their children.
[edit] Emergency Shelter
The oldest of the Marjaree Mason Center shelters, the Emergency Shelter is located in the City of Fresno. It has 93 beds in 40 rooms and is staffed 24-hours a day.
Built in 1922, this 21,380-square-foot facility was designed by Julia Morgan, the architect known for designing Hearst Castle
[edit] Homeward Bound
Also located in Fresno, the 23-bed Homeward Bound shelter is an unstaffed, transitional shelter where clients prepare to move out on their own.
[edit] Reedley House
Reedley House is located in Reedley, California. It has 18 beds and is staffed 24-hours a day.
[edit] Naomi’s House
Located on the campus of Fresno’s Poverello House, the 22-bed Naomi’s House shelter is for single, homeless women.
[edit] Hotline
Crisis hotline, staffed 24-hours a day.
[edit] Therapy
Housed in the Marjaree Mason Center Administrative Offices, therapists work on a sliding scale to treat victims of domestic violence.
[edit] Advocacy
Marjaree Mason Center advocates have offices in both the Fresno Police and Fresno Sheriff’s Headquarters. They ride with domestic violence detectives to visit alleged victims and may accompany alleged victims to court.
[edit] Education
The Marjaree Mason Center offers a Legal Options class, and another known as S.A.F.E. Group. Legal Options covers information on restraining orders, criminal charges, and custody questions. S.A.F.E. Group provides general information regarding domestic violence.
[edit] Legal Assistance
The Marjaree Mason Center paralegal assists domestic violence victims in the obtaining and renewing of restraining orders.
[edit] Batterer’s Intervention
Located at a separate facility as the services for battered women, the batterer’s intervention program consists of a 52-week, typically court mandated, class for domestic violence offenders.
