Spotlight | SPARCC: 45 Years of Empowering Survivors and Helping Rebuild Futures

By Reno Gomez | Photos courtesy of SPARCC | January 2025

For many victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, a bright future can feel like a distant, unattainable dream. The Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) lights the way and helps guide survivors to a safer, healthier tomorrow, providing essential services to those who need it most.

With 45 years of serving the community, SPARCC has played a pivotal role in healing and empowering victims across Sarasota and Desoto counties, offering shelter, counseling, in-person support in hospitals and courtrooms, legal services, and support groups. Immediate assistance is available through its year-round shelter, and across all locations, including the Downtown Sarasota outreach center, satellite offices in Venice, North Port and Arcadia, and a 24-hour crisis helpline, all at no cost to the victim. Every call is kept strictly confidential.

No two stories are the same, and no one knows that better than SPARCC’s President and CEO, Jessica Hays. Since joining the organization in 2007, Hays has worked to meet the individual needs of those seeking its services. Whether support comes in the form of crisis intervention counseling, safety planning, or shelter, all cases are handled with the same level of care and importance.

“We focus on what our survivors need, and how we can remove barriers to help them be safe, or overcome whatever obstacles they’re facing. Our core services—the shelter, our hotline, and our crisis intervention services—haven’t changed over the years, and, in the last seven years, the addition of legal services and housing stability have been very well received,” says Hays.

As the population and needs of the community have grown, so have the services and efforts of SPARCC. An expansion of legal services, initially added in 2017, has allowed for the organization to offer specialized legal support for survivors. Services such as injunctions and family law matters are no longer unattainable or unaffordable for many of those in need. With the addition of the Housing Stability Program, SPARCC is better able to support survivors after they leave the shelter, and transition to a safe and independent living situation. Population growth into the southern parts of Sarasota County, particularly in North Port, has allowed SPARCC to grow their staff and be responsive to the needs in all service areas.

Making a call to the hotline or seeking resources from the center is just the first step in the journey, and although leaving the situation may not be immediately feasible for some experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, SPARCC is there every step of the way. On average, it takes a survivor seven attempts to leave their abusive situation, and SPARCC recognizes how dangerous this time can be. Safety planning and economic empowerment is crucial in the earliest stages, but more importantly, they remind victims that they are worthy and deserving of safety.

“Keeping survivors and their children safe from harm is the greatest measure of our success. Whether it’s the shelter providing a life-saving refuge or an injunction helping someone escape their abuser, each of these outcomes can be seen as the ultimate success,” says Hays.

SPARCC’s tireless advocacy extends beyond the immediate crisis and into community education. Prior to becoming the President and CEO in 2015, Hays served as the Director of Community Awareness, working firsthand with volunteers, leading events and fundraisers, and overseeing education and awareness efforts.

“The more we talk about domestic violence and sexual assault, the more we can support survivors. Experiencing these things doesn’t define anyone. Survivors are not weak because of it, nor did they do anything to cause these things to happen to them. It’s important to talk about these issues because the longer that something exists in silence, the more it will continue to happen.”

Through community outreach, SPARCC hopes to enact meaningful change by building on a foundation of awareness and empathy. For victims, feelings of shame and embarrassment, threats of further violence, or strong emotional ties to their abuser may keep them from leaving a situation. Equipping the community with facts about domestic violence and sexual assault, and the knowledge of resources available to victims and their children, can make a difference in the lives of those effected by violence, and break the cycle before it starts.

“It’s especially important to reach young people and talk to them about healthy relationships, and how to find resources if they need them. Talking to them about some of the primary prevention topics, before they ever become a victim or a perpetrator of domestic violence or sexual assault, is really the key to ending this violence,” says Hays.

If you’re looking for ways to help, SPARCC makes getting involved easy. Making a donation through the organization’s website (sparcc.net) is the best and most direct way to show your support. Volunteer opportunities are available after specialized training, or by joining the SPARCC Auxiliary team to plan fundraising and awareness events.

For a more hands-on approach, volunteers are always needed to staff SPARCC Treasure Chest, a resale shop that helps fund SPARCC’s free programs and services. Responsibilities may include accepting donations, pricing items, sales, and more. The Treasure Chest welcomes donations of gently used furniture, clothing and household items.