Domestic violence shelter often at capacity, director says

MANSFIELD — The Domestic Violence Shelter in Richland County had 11 adults and 21 children staying in emergency shelter at the time of a nationwide county Wednesday morning.

Executive Director Colleen Rice said the number was a bit lower than usual. The shelter’s 16 rooms are typically all occupied.

The program recently added two rooms and two overflow areas where people can sleep on cots until a bed opens.

“We have been so full at the shelter we actually had to figure out how to provide two more rooms because the state ran out of hotel money,” Rice said.

“I couldn’t bear to turn away anyone that needed us.”

Rice said the high demand for beds likely reflects greater awareness and willingness to report than a rise in domestic violence.

“I think what we’re seeing is what’s always been there,” she said.

It’s also a result of the shelter’s wide range of services.

“We’re serving more people that have been trafficked. We’re serving more people who have been sexually assaulted and don’t feel safe going home,” Rice said.

Cash flow a concern after federal funding freeze earlier this year

The shelter joined close to 2,000 other shelters across the country Wednesday in submitting real-time data on their services for a nationwide count.

The effort, spearheaded by the National Network to End Domestic Violence, provides a one-day, unduplicated count of adults and children seeking domestic violence services in the United States.

During last year’s count, responding domestic violence programs reported serving 79,088 survivors and not having the resources to meet 14,095 requests for help.

The programs also received more than 26,000 contacts on domestic violence hotlines and provided 651 educational sessions and training to the 16,464 members of the public in a single day.

Colleen Rice, the organization’s executive director, said datasets like the one prepared by the NNEDV help demonstrate the prevalence of domestic violence and the need for funding and other supports.

“Programs in Ohio and nationwide need increased funding to support all survivors seeking help while also working toward preventing violence in our communities,” Rice said.

Shelters receive state and federal funds as outlined in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) and Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants.

Shelters faced delays in accessing those funds earlier this year due to federal funding freezes.

“We just finally received the ability to start billing for VAWA. That money was supposed to start flowing in January,” Rice said. “I’ve been paying people since January not knowing if I was going to be reimbursed, even though we were approved for the grant.”

“We are getting funding, but things are coming through so slow. My biggest concerns are cash flow and having funds in an emergency,” she added. “It’s been a very tough year financially to try to keep our heads above water.”

Shelter is one of the only ones in the state that accepts pets

The Domestic Violence Shelter was founded in the late 1970s, one of the first three of its kind in the state.

It offers services including a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, hospital and legal advocacy, case management, support groups, campus advocacy, education and outreach, child advocacy and support for survivors of human trafficking.

Since January, the shelter has helped 42 families (including 70 children) find housing.

“We visit them every month. We check on them. We’re helping them with the challenges and barriers that they are facing that may be tempting them to go back (to their abuser),” she said.

Rice said the organization’s model is one that creates efficiency and cost savings for the community because it offers a variety of services under one roof, while other communities might have separate organizations — each with their own building and administrative team.

Another thing that makes the shelter unique is that people in need can bring their furry friends with them.

“We’re one of the only shelters in the state that takes pets,” she said. “We have encountered a lot of extra costs with animals this year because a lot of times they come in and they’re not vaccinated.”

Rice said the shelter is open to women, children and men experiencing domestic violence and is equipped to serve individuals with disabilities.

She encouraged anyone experiencing domestic violence, or who knows someone that might be, to call the Shelter’s hotline at 419-774-5840.