Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters (COVE) mission is to provide shelter, protection, and advocacy to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault while also educating the community about the root causes of violence. For more than forty years, survivors in Mason, Lake, Oceana, and now Manistee counties have turned to COVE in times of need.
​
As a result of an inadequate support system for sexual assault survivors in Oceana County, a group of volunteers formed an organization formally known as Region Four Community Services. In the beginning, this grassroots volunteer program ran through Community Mental Health and operated out of a donated Department of Social Services building. After the establishment of COVE in 1978, these volunteers created the 24-hour crisis line that summer. By 1979, COVE operated out of Hart with a "safe homes" network (private residents offering shelter to survivors for a maximum of five days).
​
The first “official” shelter, a combination of communal living space and offices, opened in 1981 and continued operating in Hart until 1983. COVE was now providing services to both victims of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. In order to expand available services while simultaneously expanding the service area, a part time Outreach Services position was added in 1985 to Ludington. In 1988, the shelter facility relocated to Ludington and the COVE service area was redefined by the State of Michigan.
​
In 2004 the organization officially changed to Communities Overcoming Violent Encounter, COVE.
​
In February of 2015 COVE moved to its present location, a state-of-the-art purpose driven facility, from what is an over 100-year-old building. This new facility was the first of its kind in Michigan doubling its residential capacity (6 apartment style units) and allowing COVE to expand services to survivors.
As needs in the community continued to evolve, our sexual assault services expanded to include a SANE (sexual assault nurse examiners) unit in 2017 in our new building. These services, like COVE are offered 24/7/365 to survivors.
​
COVE continues to personalize their services to the needs of victims through emergency services, advocacy, and referrals.
​
​
We believe all individuals can embrace who they are,
can define their future, and can change the world.
Our Mission
The mission of Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters (COVE) is to provide shelter, protection and advocacy to all victims of domestic violence and sexual assault as well as to educate communities on the root causes of violence.
Our Vision
COVE is more than a building to provide emergency shelter. It's a safe place where violence and control are not present. Beyond COVE being a safe place, the goal is to encourage, listen and provide advocacy and resources to both residential and non-residential clients helping them build their knowledge, courage and ability to make changes in their lives that will assist them in removing themselves and their children from violence they have experienced. COVE addresses current, potentially life-threatening situations, as well as tries to stop the cycle of violence in future generations by educating our communities.
​
COVE will strive to be a donor, volunteer and most importantly client centric program in a welcoming atmosphere.