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National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

April 17, 2026By

We are proud to join organizations from coast to coast to commemorate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) from April 19–25, 2026. 

This annual week of awareness is organized by the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime. This year’s theme is “Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities.”

MARSY’S LAW 

Under Kentucky’s Marsy’s Law, crime victims have these constitutional rights: 

  • Timely notice of all proceedings. 
  • Be heard in any proceeding involving release, plea, sentencing, or consideration of pardon, commutation, granting of reprieve, or other matter involving the right of a victim. 
  • Be present at all proceedings, other than Grand Jury proceedings. 
  • Consult with the attorney for the Commonwealth or designee. 
  • Timely notice of release or escape of the accused. 
  • Have their safety and their family’s safety considered in setting bail, the defendant’s release and conditions of release. 
  • Fairness and consideration of the victims’ safety, dignity, and privacy. 

Visit the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General for more information about Marsy’s Law.

CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION 

Kentucky victims of crimes may also file a claim with the Public Protection Cabinet Office of Claims and Appeals to request payment or reimbursement for expenses related to crimes when no other resources are available. The Crime Victims Compensation Board (CVCB) will consider assistance with these and other expenses related to the crime: 

  • Medical expenses  
  • Relocation and temporary housing expenses  
  • Loss of earnings resulting from the crime  
  • Loss of financial support resulting from the crime  
  • Lost earnings from bereavement in homicide cases  
  • Expenses related to court proceedings  
  • Emotional support animal expenses  
  • Reimbursement for items seized by law enforcement  
  • Tattoo removal for survivors of human trafficking 

You can learn more about filing a claim for Crime Victim Compensation here. We are available to assist you with crime victim compensation applications.

800-544-2022

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence crimes, our advocates are available 24-hours a day, every day of the year, to support your rights.

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Inspired Giving

April 2, 2026By

Altruism Matters

The Economics of Altruism class at the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics recently selected our organization as a partner agency.

As part of the course, a team of five students completed an in-depth economic analysis and recommendations for our nonprofit. “The survey results from the students were especially helpful in planning our social media strategies,” shares Chelsey Keesy, our content specialist. “Their feedback gave us insight into how younger audiences want to engage with their communities.”

At the end of the semester, we attended a Grant Award Ceremony and were honored with a $7,500 award, recognizing the students’ work and the impact of this partnership.

Thank you to team members Riley Garrett, Grace Stanley, Ana McClellan, Ashtyn Williams, and Layla Angeles Plakosh, guided by Dr. Gail Hoyt, professor of economics. The project was generously supported by Charles and Valerie Sonsteby and the Davisson/Sonsteby Family Charitable Trust.

Read the Spring 2026 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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Artist Enrichment Grant

March 30, 2026By

Empowered Expression

Through the Artist Enrichment Grant at the Kentucky Foundation for Women, photographer Katie Romano will support survivors this year through her digital and analog art.

Katie says, “I am so excited to be working with GreenHouse17 and creating artwork which uplifts and advocates for women. Sharing the voices of survivors is a critical step to raise awareness.”

This is Katie’s second Bloom cover collaboration. We were excited to welcome her back to help share Paula’s story and look forward to sharing more survivor stories with the community this year.

“When survivors choose to share their stories, the experience affirms their strength and makes their healing visible,” says Corissa Phillips, our external relations director. “Photography can tell these stories in ways that words alone cannot.”

The Artist Enrichment grant provides opportunities for artists to develop new skills and art that advances social justice in Kentucky. This year’s recipients include artists across literary, performing, visual, and media art. Visit the Kentucky Foundation for Women website at kfw.org to learn more.

Read the Spring 2026 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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Harvest Happiness

March 26, 2026By

U-Pick Days on the Farm

Summer is on the way, and we’re already looking forward to U-Pick Days on the farm.

Survivors living at the shelter find healing and a sense of purpose in the flower fields. U-Pick Days help sustain the farm while inviting the community to share that energy.

“I loved being around all the flowers,” shares a survivor who helped the farm. “It really made me see how full of life the world is.”

Survivors earn an hourly stipend for their time and care on the farm, helping meet basic needs while finding healing in nature.

For many survivors, time on the farm becomes something they carry with them.

“When I’m working on the farm, I feel at peace,” shares another survivor. “Not only did I learn about flowers, I learned more about myself.”

Make plans for some flower picking fun this summer! Our U-Pick Season Pass includes four picks on Saturdays in August and September. Bring family and friends to introduce them to our mission. Find all the details here.

Read the Spring 2026 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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Transformative Ink

March 26, 2026By

A New Step Forward

For the past year and a half, Tenebrous Tattoo has offered something deeply significant for survivors—tattoo cover-ups as a tool for healing.

“It’s very healing,” says Lynnae, a survivor who recently had a scar covered. “It’s like putting your past behind you. It’s a new step forward.”

When Tenebrous opened, owners Joshua and Angela wanted a way to give back to the community. Joshua was covering up work put on a friend by an abuser, and the idea for this partnership began to take shape.

“Throughout the totality of my time tattooing, I have seen the value of cover-ups for people who were covering up a negative part of their life,” he shares.

Angela adds, “A cover-up is transformative. It’s a rare opportunity to see it actively transform someone as they watch that old work disappear.”

Read the Spring 2026 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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Community Connectors

March 26, 2026By

Informing the community about intimate partner abuse and sharing resources is a vital part of ending harm and helping survivors find safety and support.

We receive more than a hundred invitations to participate in resource fairs and community events across our service area every year. While not able to attend them all, the recently launched Community Connectors program helps extend that reach.

The effort trains volunteers to attend events, share information, and engage in meaningful conversations. Since its launch, five dedicated volunteers have represented the mission at several events.

Katherine Lewellen says, “It’s an honor to represent GreenHouse17 as a community connector. It has been a wonderful experience and the friendships and connections I have made are invaluable to me. I am grateful for the opportunity to support survivors in this way.”

Their dedication means greater access to resources for survivors, stronger relationships with local partners, and more pathways to safety.

“I enjoy engaging with community members at events like U-Pick Days and Rock Relief,” shares community connector Sharon Leong. “I love being able to provide information about services and the ways individuals and organizations can help.”

We’re seeking community connectors in Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Estill, Franklin, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Powell, Scott, and Woodford counties. If you’d like to learn more, please send Hallie a note here.

Read the Spring 2026 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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Paula’s Story

March 16, 2026By

“When you’re a survivor, you’re surviving.”

I had my own place, and a new job, and that’s where I met him.

There was a lot of gaslighting. He would call me names and belittle me. He always made me feel like I was dumb, and I knew I wasn’t.

It was a lot of getting back together, trying to make things work. I knew I had to get out of the relationship but found out I was pregnant.

One night I came home after working one of my two jobs and he was drunk. We started fighting. He was really angry. He grabbed my arms and tackled me to the ground and left a bruise.

That was the first and only physical abuse. I left and filed for a protective order. He avoided being served for months. I had to quit my jobs and move to a shelter in Frankfort.

I wasn’t required to attend the court hearing in Lexington but was so desperate. I told the judge I had to revoke my emergency protective order because I didn’t have anywhere to go. I had to go back to my abuser.

The judge said no—and asked if there was a representative from GreenHouse17 in the court.

Living at GreenHouse17 was the best of times and the worst of times. I treated it like a sociological project and tried to intellectualize my trauma. The things that were most helpful were the support groups. I went to every group that I could attend.

Coming here gave me resources to deal with what happened during my childhood. I grew up in a very chaotic situation and GreenHouse17 gave me tools to deal with this trauma.

When you’re a survivor, you’re surviving. You’re going to make compromises with yourself and your pride to deal with abusers. You will have to make sacrifices.

People think you’re going to be this exemplary human, the heroine of your story, but you’re a flawed person like anybody else.

Everything that happens in our lives feeds into our journey. The most important thing is getting back on your feet. Go to therapy, talk with a therapist, and find healthy coping strategies.

I lived in the transitional housing program after shelter. Having a place of my own that I could afford kept me from going back.

Today, I work at two elementary schools, volunteer at church, co-lead a Latino Literacy program, and am working to become a Spanish Interpreter for Fayette County Schools.

I’m planning to get my master’s degree and will be getting married this year. We’ve been together for five years. He’s very compassionate, peaceful and calm.

This is only part of Paula’s story, in her own words, shared with permission.

Read the Spring 2026 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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shop & shareBlog

Shop & Share 2026

January 13, 2026By

Shop & Share is on Saturday, February 7!

Our largest volunteer-driven initiative, Shop and Share, is on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

Shop & Share is a one-day donation drive at grocery stores across Kentucky to support survivors of intimate partner abuse. You can “shop” for what you need and “share” a few items with your local domestic violence shelter. 

Shoppers at participating Kroger locations in our 17-county service area donate enough non-perishable goods during the day to stock our shelter’s pantry for almost a year! 

Click or tap to download and print the Shop & Share flyer.

More than 100 volunteers are helping during the big day. They’ll be distributing our needs list at Kroger stores, delivering goods from stores across our service area to the shelter, and sorting the donations in our basement pantry. 

Shop & Share is sponsored by Kentucky’s First Lady Britainy Beshear and organized in coordination with ZeroV, the state coalition of domestic violence programs, with the support of dozens of important partnerships across the state.

Follow this link to let us know you're interested in volunteering!

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2025 Farm Reflections

December 22, 2025By

This is a special blog contribution written by Ryan Koch, our nature-based healing advocate.

In January of 2024, my role at GreenHouse17 changed from Residential Program Director to Nature-Based Healing Lead. This change in roles was inspired in part by a book called The Nature Fix by Florence Williams. The big idea in the book is that the natural world is a natural healer, and that spending time in a forest or a garden can reduce stress, boost creativity, enhance interpersonal relationships, and improve cognitive functioning. 

These are some bold health claims, and I would be more critical of these claims if I didn’t feel a lot of them in my own body. I also found that I wanted these health benefits for residents and my fellow staff at GreenHouse17.  

The past two years have been an adventure in learning what helps residents of all ages feel welcome outdoors. This has included a number of experiments and wayfinding.  

For example, we have learned that little fingers are great at planting beans, but just okay at planting radishes due to the size of the seeds. We have learned that while consistency of start times is important to any successful programming at shelter, most of our residents only want to be in a garden if the temperature is between 65 and 82 degrees. We have learned that exciting discoveries can compromise a gardening effort, especially if the work crew is younger than 10 years old.  

Exciting discoveries can include worms, millipedes, spiders, hummingbirds, moths, ladybugs, tomato hornworms, beetles, and many other creatures. Another important lesson is that though these discoveries could (and should!) derail work, young people generally do great at their garden jobs.  

In my curiosity about drawing residents outside I hatched a plan to build a simple pizza oven. It is made of cob (a mixture of clay, straw and sand) and uses a wood fire to heat a cooking surface to 800 degrees for a quick thin crust pizza. So just as the growing season was wrapping up this year, I gathered materials and planned the build.  

Over the course of about six weeks, with the help of 8 residents, 11 advocates and 19 volunteers, all of whom got their hands, and sometimes their feet (cob is mixed by stomping on the ingredients with bare feet) very dirty, the oven took shape and is now ready for cooking.   

It is my vision to continue to entice folks outside through the winter to enjoy hot pizza around a fire ring and to celebrate winter’s dormancy together. 

GreenHouse17 is a safe space to be vulnerable, to grow, and even to play. In my personal recovery, the natural world has been an important teacher and occasional dance partner. I hope that through gardening, land stewardship, woods walks, and wood-fired pizza, our residents will be as moved by our 40-acre farm as I have been.   

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Retail Partners

December 10, 2025By

We love our retail partners!

Our retail partners in Kentucky help promote local sales of Handmade by Survivors products and mission awareness. 

Wild Birds Unlimited has been a partner for many years. Nic Patton, owner, says, “The customers love the products. The fact that they’re all natural and handmade fits right into what we do here.”  

Hilton Lexington Downtown has supported our mission in many ways and became a partner in 2024. You can find our products in their gift shop! 

We welcomed our newest partners for Handmade by Survivors this year – North Lime Coffee & Donuts and Mick’s Pot Spot. Find our soaps, lip balms, and candles at North Lime’s Limestone location. Mick’s Pot Spot nurtures a love for plants, as well their support for survivors, and is our most recent retail partner addition. 

If you’re interested in becoming a retail partner, please contact Hallie Lintner at 859.519.1911 or complete this form to request more information about wholesale opportunities. 

Shop online!

Shipping or local Lexington pick up is available.

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