CASA Pinellas Celebrates 10 Years of Shelter, Advocacy, and Hope
August 16, 2025 — For a decade, Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA) Pinellas has been more than a shelter — it has been a lifeline. Since opening its domestic violence shelter in 2015 with just 22 beds, CASA has grown into one of Florida’s largest safe havens for abuse survivors, now offering more than 99 beds and a wide network of life-changing services.
Ten Years of Service and Expansion
Each year, CASA provides nearly 1,000 survivors and their children with a confidential place to rebuild their lives. In 2024 alone, more than 900 people secured permanent housing through its programs. Beyond housing, the nonprofit offers wraparound support: legal advocacy, children’s programming, mental health services, and rapid re-housing assistance — all free and confidential.
CASA CEO Lariana Forsythe called the 10-year milestone both a celebration and a reminder of how deeply domestic violence still runs through Pinellas County. The county consistently ranks among the top five in Florida for reported cases. “It’s such an underreported crime,” Forsythe said. “If we’re helping this many people, imagine how many more are suffering in silence.”
The Unseen Toll of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is rarely just physical. Forsythe noted that 99% of cases involve financial abuse, from controlled bank accounts to sabotaged credit scores. With Tampa Bay’s soaring cost of living, many victims remain trapped because leaving often means facing homelessness. On average, survivors attempt to leave seven times before breaking free for good.
To ease that cycle, CASA provides not only emergency shelter but also long-term support, including financial assistance to ensure safe, stable housing. “Somebody could be a multimillionaire and still not have control of their own bank accounts,” Forsythe explained.
Building More Than Shelter
While the shelter remains a cornerstone, Forsythe admitted that communal living is “tough”, especially for the children who make up about half of CASA’s residents. That’s where the Family Justice Center (FJC) comes in.
Opened in 2022, the St. Pete-based FJC was Florida’s first of its kind, offering a one-stop hub for legal, medical, financial, and trauma-informed services. In its first year, it provided 8,200 services to over 1,600 people. Studies show just how critical this approach is: in the 45 days after a domestic violence incident with children, survivors typically juggle 20 separate appointments, repeat their story 17 times, fill out 289 pages of paperwork, and lose 53 hours of work. The FJC cuts through that red tape, making safety more accessible.
A Growing Need Without Enough Funding
CASA’s work is essential but expensive. Providing diapers, car seats, formula, school supplies, and safe shelter for 100 people translates to 22,000 bed nights each year. Forsythe warned that “there’s only so much money in the system” to meet the overwhelming demand.
A new state law requiring police to ask victims 12 “lethality questions” could help identify more cases, but lawmakers attached no funding to the mandate, leaving CASA to shoulder the burden of increased need without extra resources.
To help bridge the gap, CASA will host a fundraising scavenger hunt on October 25, 2025, throughout downtown St. Petersburg. Teams will explore “local gems,” earn points, and celebrate the city’s history in what Forsythe described as “a super fun way to educate people about domestic violence.”
Ten Years of Shelter, Ten Years of Change in Pinellas County
Domestic violence often hides in plain sight. It isn’t confined to certain neighborhoods, income levels, or families — it’s everywhere. CASA’s decade of service proves just how urgent and widespread the crisis is in Pinellas County.
This milestone isn’t only about looking back, it’s about recognizing the thousands of local families who have walked through CASA’s doors over the past ten years. From downtown St. Pete to Gulfport and beyond, the organization’s growth underscores one truth: safe housing and comprehensive support are not luxuries — they are lifelines.