Program Summary: Domestic violence is a complex issue, making permanent separation from an abuser more complicated than simply walking away. Domestic violence is a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors that one uses against someone else in order to gain power and control over the individual. Such behaviors can include threats, isolation, physical and emotional assaults, and economic coercion. The problem of domestic violence requires a coordinated, comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to achieve long-term resolution. Both primary and secondary survivors of domestic violence need access to holistic, trauma-informed strategies that address ways to overcome the violence perpetrated against them.

As a result of regular meetings, the Independence Strivin' Committee has identified the need to increase the community's capacity to ensure the safety and housing stability of survivors of domestic violence. Residents of Hawthorne Place Apartments who have experienced domestic violence need and deserve access to dedicated, full-time staff with training on the issues of domestic violence and trauma. Additionally, research shows that the most successful interventions need to be provided on-site and at the time they are needed to fully address survivors' current safety needs and barriers to housing stability.

Hope House's Targeted Domestic Violence Program will address the identified need and bridge the current gap in services that has been identified by the Independence Strivin' Committee. Project staff will provide on-site advocacy and therapy services for residents of Hawthorne Place Apartments who are currently or have previously experienced domestic violence. 

The program will include one full-time Advocate and one full-time Therapist to provide on-site services that meet the current needs of residents as it relates to domestic violence and the trauma they have experienced. The full-time Advocate will be available to provide as needed crisis intervention services such as safety planning, assistance with filing an Order of Protection, and resource referrals and linkage. The Advocate will also provide advocacy and assistance through the various legal systems residents may need to navigate, including Municipal Court, Order of Protection Court and Family Court. Each of these systems are unique and may be confusing and daunting to survivors. The Advocate will provide assistance in not only navigating these systems, but offer the survivor the support and confidence they need to fully advocate for themselves and their family. 

These services will be provided as frequently as requested. 

The Advocate will also provide on-going case management services as requested. On-going case management services include weekly meetings to assist the survivor in setting and achieving goals to overcome their current barriers as they relate to domestic violence and the trauma they have experienced. Advocates utilize a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach to service provision.

The full-time Therapist will provide individual, group and family therapy services to survivors. Based on best practice, family therapy services will only be provided to the non-offending parent and children. As part of its collaborative relationship with the Children's Division, participating in Hope House's therapy services will satisfy requirements set by Children's Division for non-offending parents regarding domestic violence and/or parenting. The Therapist can also provide residents with case management and resource referrals for further mental health and/or substance use needs. Individual and family therapy services are typically provided on a weekly basis. Group therapy services will include a weekly support group as well as weekly psycho-educational groups that focus on safety, dynamics of domestic violence, red flags of violent relationships, setting boundaries, etc. 

Supported recovery/substance groups will be provided as needed.

The program not only fully addresses the currently identified gap in services, but also fully supports Hawthorne Place Apartment's goal of ensuring the housing stability of its residents. When survivors have access to supportive and effective services that fully meet their needs, they are more equipped to keep themselves and their families safe, cope with the trauma they have experienced, and remain in stable and secure housing.

Needs Statement: The Independence Strivin' Committee has identified current needs and gaps in services for those residing at Hawthorne Place Apartments. Hope House has been an active member of this committee and, through its existing services, has worked hard to fill this gap. Unfortunately, to fully address the gap and provide the most efficient and effective services for survivors, the capacity of the agency must be expanded through this program.

Survivors require assistance with issues such as crisis intervention; access to available supportive services; an understanding of their rights and available legal remedies; a safe place to stay; confidence that their basic physical needs and those of their dependents will be met; assistance with ongoing safety planning; a stable, sustaining income; help with identifying and accessing information and resources to address the practical problems created by domestic violence; relief from post-separation violence; and emotional, psychological, and social support. It is important for these supports to be offered at a time and in a manner that the survivor is ready to receive them. Best practice also suggests that once the immediate needs of survivors are met through crisis services, service providers must focus on the long-term welfare of survivors.

Focusing and ensuring the long-term welfare of survivors requires a coordinated community approach and provision of holistic services that continues to support and offer assistance with potential post-separation abuse, recovery from trauma, maintaining safe and affordable housing, and continued self-sufficiency free from abuse. In order to successfully move survivors toward self-sufficiency, programs must focus on all of the necessary domains which includes, but is not limited to, food, safe shelter, child care, child and adult education, healthcare, life skills, parenting skills, family/social relationships, transportation, legal needs, mental health, and substance use. This project ensures that collaborating community providers will look at and address all domains..

COMBAT Funding: $135,475.00