Former councilman takes over as family shelter’s board president
The Tennessean interviews the Safe Haven board of directors president:
Former councilman takes over as family shelter’s board president
By PAM SHERBORNE
For Davidson A.M.One of the things that impressed Jim Shulman most when he visited Safe Haven Family Shelter during a “Lunch and Learn” was how simple the concept on which the nonprofit agency is based.
Now, as president of the board of directors there, he is eager to help the nonprofit agency, which provides assistance to homeless families.
Shulman, deputy commissioner for the State Department of Health, is very active in the community. He is on the board of the Adventure Science Center, the Nashville Children’s Theatre and the Nashville City Cemetery. He also served for eight years as a Metro councilman, representing District 25.
Bruce Newport, executive director of Safe Haven, at 1234 Third Ave. S., said Shulman’s experience in small business, local and state government will “allow us to take our organization to the next level.”
“With continued public awareness and fundraising, Safe Haven can begin drafting plans for expansion and continued organizational strength,” Newport said. “Jim will be an outstanding board president.”
Board presidents serve a term of one calendar year. Afterwards, they can be re-elected for another year. Newport said most presidents serve two terms.
How did you become involved with Safe Haven?
“I had attended a ‘Lunch and Learn,’ an event they have occasionally to show people what they do. That was nine months ago. I came away thinking that the concept was so simple. They take in homeless families, get the kids back in school, bring some stability to the family and bring them back to their feet. The residents have to work. Safe Haven takes part of their wages and saves it for them. After 60 days, 90 days, whatever it takes, this money helps the families get back to a certain stability.
They also have programs in the shelter, parenting skills, things for the kids.
And, they have a phenomenal success rate. It is in the low 80 percent. What they are doing is working.
So how long afterwards did you become a board member?
“I became a board member not too long afterwards. Then, before I knew it, I was board president.”
What is your role as board president?
“My role, and the board’s role, is to provide help to the staff. This is very much of a working board. I have put up signs for events and sold tickets. I have also gone over there for their Lunch and Learn.
This Safe Haven staff has been working very hard to stabilize the agency. They have been looking for a new focus and wanting to readdress their primary focus. They have a very strong staff.”
Is there a growing need for this type of agency in Nashville?
“Last year, they had about 1,000 families on a waiting list. The need is growing, but unfortunately there is a not a lot out there for homeless families. There is such an age span. They are dealing with kids from newborns to 18 years old. Safe Haven is pretty unique in trying to address this.”
So what will the next year bring?
“We have all kinds of responsibilities. We have a long-range plan to develop. We need to look at the existing programs. We need to keep the organization financially sound and try to find a way to serve more people. We need to start looking for ways to increase the space.”
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