LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Of all the domestic violence shelters and programs in Nevada, SafeNest receives the largest financial support from afar. But some shelter residents believe the money is not used correctly.

13 Investigates shares concerns of more than a dozen victim-survivors who say SafeNest is not a shelter. We have already shared the experiences of several women who detailed dangerous And unsanitary living conditions at Nevada’s largest domestic violence shelter.

In the third part of our investigation, we follow the money.

Financial records show that this year, SafeNest obtained $3.6 million in state and federal tax dollars. They get millions more from taxpayer-funded grants, private fundraisers and donations – but many residents say they aren’t getting the services or help they need.

“Going to SafeNest was like a dream come true to help me start my life again, get back to work, find a house, everything they promised me,” says former client MJ. “Instead, I got nothing. I don’t want to say anything.”

“They treat us like we’re just there to fill a bed so they can get a paycheck,” said April, another former SafeNest customer.

In its most recent filing with the IRS – which relates to the fiscal year ending June 2023 – SafeNest total revenue was $10.7 million. That’s about $4 million more than the previous year.

KTNV

Salaries represent more than a third of SafeNest’s total spend. CEO Liz Ortenburger makes about $261,000, a 34% increase from what she made in 2022.

The chief operating officer makes approximately $133,000, a 25% salary increase from the previous year.

KTNV

In total, SafeNest’s expenses for the year were $8.75 million, closing the books. almost 2 million dollars in the dark.

Ortenburger tells me she’s proud of how the nonprofit manages its money, saying, “We haven’t had an audit result in years.” »

But 13 Investigations revealed an audit of the most recent IRS filing that identified “a deficiency in internal control.” Auditors discovered a PayPal account held in the organization’s name that had not been included in the general ledger balances. The account had been created without management approval – a SafeNest policy violation.

In the report, auditors determined “an increased risk of misappropriation/fraud” because an employee could create an unauthorized account and use it for their personal benefit. But the audit did not say whether any money was actually taken.

KTNV

When I asked Ortenburger about the IRS records, she denied any financial improprietyciting strict federal oversight. She says every dollar spent is accounted for, with more allocated to improving housing.

“We’re hoping that next year when we get the permits, we can declutter the shelter, create more space in the rooms — all those things are on the table,” Ortenburger said. “All of these things are happening because of the generous support of not only donors, but also the state and the county.”

Donor dollars come in part from two annual fundraising events.

IRS records show the “Run for Hope” was raised just below $23,000 – all of this came back to SafeNest.

But that’s not the case for the organization’s main annual fundraiser, listed on IRS Form 990 as “Spring Tea.” The form shows the entered event $111,000 – but only $2,500or only 2.25%, went to SafeNest.

Everything else was spent on the event itselfincluding $29,000 for a room at the Four Seasons, $50,000 for food and entertainment and $30,000 for “other direct expenses,” including event planning company fees.

“What donors need to know is that when they choose to come to an event or donate to us, that money is going to fill the gaps where other funding is not in place,” said Ortenburger.

KTNV

In advertising for its 2024 “Pathways to Hope” fundraising event – ​​which was formerly called the Spring Tea – SafeNest said last year that it had provided 169,886 direct services to customersincluding:

• a 24/7 crisis hotline,
• The LVMPD crisis response teams,
• shelter and housing,
• therapy sessions,
• and much more.

Although these are all important services that the shelter is supposed to provide, former SafeNest customers I spoke with say they felt worse off when they left the shelter than when they arrived.

“No one helped me. They didn’t do anything. They dug me a deeper hole than before,” says Lauren, a former SafeNest customer.

Despite all the millions of people arriving at the shelter, the the women we spoke to tell us that food is often scarceso the inhabitants steal from each other. These concerns are documented in grievances filed with shelter staff.

In emails shared with 13 investigators and sent to the management of the shelter, clients complained about food rationing, the lack of hygiene and first aid products and the dilapidation of the structures.

Regarding services, April told me, “I have not received the bare minimum of what they claim to provide or offer to someone experiencing domestic violence and fleeing a trafficker. »

Especially, the women we spoke to said they received very little counseling and no assessment of their mental health.

“SafeNest had no advice on site,” MJ said.

“I was hoping there would be someone to talk to when you’re having problems,” added former customer Natasha.

I asked Ortenburger why women did not benefit from these services, but she wouldn’t comment on individual cases, citing confidentiality concerns.

KTNV

When asked about Faced with women’s assertion that counseling is not offered on site, Ortenburger said, “Navigating this survival space, what I need right now and think I need exactly at this second is not you may not be available at that exact second.

As with other services, SafeNest also strives to helping clients find affordable housingwhich Ortenburger says is their biggest request.

“And as you know, as everyone knows, housing is facing a bottleneck. So when we don’t have affordable housing, people tend to stay in shelter longer. And the environment is frustrating,” Ortenburger said.

Another frustration for shelter clients?

Donations like these we saw piled up in bags outside the main office.

KTNV

“There are pictures on their website, as well as on Facebook, showing donations of bikes, suitcases. Nothing is given to us at the shelter,” Lauren explained. “We eat the same food over and over again. Nothing is fresh. You see water cases coming in. We don’t even get water cases. You see laundry detergent being brought in, but the water line “Water is bad on laundry, so your clothes smell like mold once you wash them.”

MJ added, “We saw online that someone had donated 1,000 pairs of tennis shoes. No one got tennis shoes. No one! I’ve been asking them for months to donate to my girl clothes that fit her.

So what happens to all this?

“Everything is looked at to see if we need it, and then we equip the Cora boutique – that’s what our boutique at the shelter is called – with what we think is appropriate and what clients have told us they were looking for,” Ortenburger said. “And this store is open four times a week and as needed.”

The most recent IRS records showed a “substantial amount” of SafeNest donations are sold to private organizations at agreed rates, with the money then goes to support programs and operations.

The audit shows that SafeNest retained nearly $168,000 in donated goods for shelter clients and sold for nearly $1.4 million. This means almost 90% were sold and not distributed to customers.

As we continue to fight for what is right for the local victim-survivors whose stories we share, our next report will provide a sort of fact check.

SafeNest requires new residents to sign a Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. When this series continues next week, we’ll outline how the speech does not correspond to reality.