Victorville- Many community based organizations throughout San Bernardino county have joined forces with the state to combat hate crimes throughout California and The High Desert is home to an amazing organization that is doing their part to stop the hate in California.
The Family Assistance Program was founded in 1985 and began as The High Desert Domestic Violence program and primarily focused on victims of domestic violence. Over the years the program evolved and began working with runaways and homeless youth. The family assistance program has matching centers in the high desert and throughout San Bernardino county. They have two runaway youth shelters in San Bernardino and Redlands and two shelters in the high desert. The Family Assistance Program also serve victims of human trafficking and transitional housing for domestic violence and women exiting probation and on parole and homeless young adults up to 24. They also have an LGBTQ+ long-term shelter for young adults 18-24.
Jim Bolas, Chief Program Officer, is the leader of the Stop The Hate Campaign that Family Assistance Program is currently running and they focus on LGBTQ and BIPOC youth hate crimes happening throughout the high desert. Jim is currently working with Dr. Steven Merrill at Cal State San Bernardino on teaching students how to review policies and make change in society. Family Assistance Program is also assembling a human rights coalition to give the community a voice in reporting hate crimes.
Family Assistance Program is currently in the public schools doing workshops on safety planning and giving children self esteem to speak out and report hate crimes to prevent violent crimes. Hate crimes are very under reported in San Bernardino county and the programs purpose is to give young people and under represented groups the courage to speak out on what they experience or witness.
The Family Assistance Program needs your help with under represented groups having a voice in the community and you can join their human rights coalition to change the narrative. If you would like to share your voice or join the coalition go to https://familyassist.org/stop-hate/ . Go to “Get Involved” and you can join the fight in stopping the hate in your local community. Also, feel free to call 1-833-8-No-Hate (1-833-8-66-4283) you can report anonymously if you wish. If you’re in need of help in the Victorville area, feel free to visit the Family Assistance Program office on 15075 7th street in Victorville.
This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.
