COOS BAY — Helping people put their lives back together can be difficult.

But Helen Thompson knows all about that.

She’s the Women’s Safety and Resource Center’s new director. She took over about 21/2 weeks ago after former director Debbie Coppenger stepped down.

She said the decision was an easy one.

“I have a heart for this work,” Thompson said. “The position really spoke to me.”

Among her experiences are six years as a police officer for the city of Coos Bay, 12 years in nonprofit management, and going to the Ukraine and Russia with the nonprofit organization, In His Fields. She also speaks Russian fluently.

Her days at the center have been challenging, but rewarding.

“It has been a learning experience,” she said. “I feel really privileged leading the helm of this organization.”

The native Californian has lived in various places, doing nonprofit and advocacy work. She said she now enjoys living in Coos County.

Her goals as director include increasing public awareness of domestic violence and assault and making people aware of the center’s resources. She also said she wanted to establish strong relationships with other groups in the area.

“The community doesn’t know the resources available here,” she said. “We have an entire staff of people here to help.”

She said the center has two shelter homes, with 12 beds each, as well as crisis intervention counselors and other people dedicated to helping both domestic violence victims and perpetrators.

She said some victims don’t know what constitutes domestic violence or they try to brush it aside.

“They say, ‘He didn’t hit me that hard,'” she said.

The center offers classes, such as anger management, and a “Dress Your Best” event, where victims are shown how to present themselves for an interview.

“We’re literally helping them put their lives back together again,” she said.

Thompson said the center had excellent resources regardless of its tight financial situation. In fact, she said they are going to fill two open positions, a half-time advocate and a bookkeeper. She said they’re always looking for eligible volunteers, too.

“I’m currently working with our board,” she said. “We’re always in a fundraising mode.”

Marian Crumley, a board member who resigned last fall after a year and a half of service, said the center has always struggled to secure funding.

“We had a constant shortage of funds because of the nature of being dependent on donations from the community and grants from other areas,” Crumley said. “Sources were always a problem.”

Crumley said she and her husband, David, felt so strongly about helping the center they set up an endowment fund of $50,000 when he died. She said people have contributed to it in his honor.

“I enjoyed working with the center a great deal,” Crumley said. “I support them in their ongoing efforts.”

Reporter Emily Thornton can be reached at 541-269-1222, ext. 249 or at emily.thornton@theworldlink.com or on Twitter: @EmilyK_Thornton.