Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laura Pahules. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Laura, appreciate you joining us today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

Control Alt Delete was founded 9/2/2019 to bridge a gap in services by providing one time assistance to people as they escape domestic abuse. Arizona has fantastic shelter services once Survivors have escaped but there wasn’t anyone to actually help them flee.
We assess each escape to identify the barrier that is keeping Survivors in unsafe and abusive situations then systemically remove those barriers.
A Survivor may have support in another city or state but no ability to get there, over 98% of the Control Alt Delete escapes have been financially abused. We help with transportation needs so they can get to their support system.
What we know is that a Survivor is less likely to return to the abuser with a strong support system. That support system can be family, friends or shelters that have wrap around services.
By helping Survivors get to their support system we are leaving shelter space for the Survivors with no support and in fact many Arizona shelters utilize Control Alt Delete services. There are times when there are waitlists at shelters or when a Survivor needs help getting to their support. We bridge that gap.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I have always known I wanted to make a difference. From volunteering to a career in human services I set out to learn everything I could in how to best serve our community. After years in the nonprofit sector I saw how domestic violence impacted every single aspect of human services. From food insecurity to foster care to the unsheltered; domestic violence was prevalent in every single area. After leaving my last position at a local nonprofit in July 2019 I knew it was time to start my own.

Being a Survivor of domestic violence myself I knew that there was a need for Control Alt Delete, I did not know how great that need would be.
Almost immediately we started getting requests for assistance to escape domestic abuse. I am not even sure how people found out about us for those first escapes! There were people that wanted to leave, that needed to flee but had no resources to do so. We stepped in and filled that gap in services.

Control Alt Delete helps in 4 key ways. Transportation, Lodging, Food & Necessities and Security. Every escape is unique and may need one or more service.
By working closely with prosecutor offices, victim advocates and crisis response teams we ensure that those who genuinely need our services are able to flee at a moments notice.

One of the things I learned in the years I worked in the nonprofit sector was that a nonprofit that has debt is constantly fundraising to pay that debt as opposed to providing services for their clients. Control Alt Delete is 100% volunteer run with zero administrative or overhead costs. That means that $1 of every single dollar donated to Control Alt Delete goes directly towards helping people escape.

Back to the I knew there was a need but I did not know how great that need would be comment – since being founded on 9/2/2019 today 4/7/2022 Control Alt Delete has facilitated 5471 escapes from domestic abuse that have included 10,739 children; who are all now safe.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I sat down and wrote out my business plan for Control Alt Delete I had this vision that I would be hopping in my little car and zooming all over the state to literally help pack people up and escape.

When the pandemic hit within just a couple months of being founded our entire business model pivoted. I am not sure if it was the pandemic or just the natural progression of the nonprofit but suddenly most of our escapes were able to be handled electronically.
This was an amazing transition because we were suddenly able to assist more Survivors. In the middle of the night I could email an electronic gas gift card or buy bus tickets and send them out within seconds of the request. I could secure a hotel room with just a phone call. We could get the Survivors to safety immediately then follow up with things like our BIN Bins (basic immediate needs baskets) or Safety Kits.

By being able to help electronically we could help fill the need for people escaping to Arizona from other states as well as people that needed to flee Arizona. We have helped with escapes in 21 other states, all of whom were either coming to or fleeing Arizona. This was a life altering and life saving pivot in our business model.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I have heard time and again from prosecutor offices, victim advocates and crisis response teams that they know they can reach out to Control Alt Delete anytime 365 24/7 and they will get the help they need for their clients.

We are a trusted and proven resource that is literally saving lives every single day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dvcontrolaltdelete.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dv.ctrlaltdel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dv.ctrlaltdel/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dv-control-alt-delete/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/dvctrlaltdel
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@dv.ctrlaltdel