MACON, GA -- A new Crisis Line and Safe House facility is opening in Macon near Coleman Hill and it will give sexual assault victims a much less stressful environment to have testing done.
The noise of medical machines is usually associated with a doctor's office or emergency room, but this new facility is different.
"I have been in forensic for over twenty years, so it has been a dream to have a free-standing center, because it's a much better scenario for someone who has been a victim of sexual assault," said the center's director, Denise Atkinson.
Atkinson has worked with with Crisis Line and Safe House for a year and is heading up the opening of this new facility, which is aimed at lowering the stress of an emergency room.
"In this kind of setting, it's one-on-one care," Atkinson said.
The center focuses on even the smallest details, like a refrigerator to store medicine, a waiting room for families, a kitchen, three office spaces, and a room for police to meet with survivors.
Executive director Dee Simms says sexual assault survivors may not always be a priority at the hospital, but says the new center will help change that.
"They need competent, good services, so what we have is trained professionals that will be doing the medical and forensic examinations," Simms said.
The new center -- which cost more than $90,000 -- was paid for using funds seized by the district attorney's office from crime suspects along with fundraising and grants.
Simms says last year they saw 70 sexual assault survivors throughout Central Georgia, so Simms and Atkinson know this center is going to be helpful.
"We're just really excited that those doors are finally going to open, and they're going to be able to get good care for their victims, so that's their goal," Atkinson said.
The center is having an open house on Tuesday, July 9, at 915 Hill Park from 4-7 p.m. and will open to the public officially on Wednesday, July 11.