2021 COMBAT Mid-Year Funding: $36,306.00

In Healing House's Own Words

According to the National Coalition against Domestic Violence, on average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. Batterers living with women, who have a Substance Use Disorder, often justify their violence as a way to control their victims when they are under the influence of drugs/alcohol.

Women who have been abused are 15 times more likely to abuse alcohol and nine times more likely to abuse drugs than women who have not been abused. A recent survey done with women in HH programs indicated that 71% of these women would not leave a violent relationship due to their own addiction.  Several of these women found safety in a domestic violence shelter but were not offered any SUD treatment while at the shelter. Additionally, the national Center on Substance Use Disorder found that 69% of these women were sexually abused as children.

While these statistics are both horrifying and tragic, there is hope. Each participant needs direction, hope and encouragement from professionals who know how to unravel the complicated webs that women weave. Women can change their current reality of SUD and its violent aftermath by participating in the Melissa’s Program at Healing House, Inc.

Melissa’s Program can help women find the courage and strength to admit the existence of a crisis situation that requires intervention and Substance Use Disorder treatment and improve the overall quality of life.

"Melissa’s Program" is named after a previous participant in Healing House, Inc.'s recovery support services. Melissa was successfully discharged and returned to her batterer. She was murdered while their 7-year old child was upstairs.  

Melissa's Program will be dedicated to empowering survivors of domestic violence through the provision of safe housing, supportive counseling and advocacy services. Participants will receive recovery support services and a treatment plan that includes services for domestic violence. This program seeks to connect survivor participants with a nurturing community while enhancing their personal safety, independence, and self-esteem.

The program’s goals include:

• Creating a system of coordinated care for participants
  
  
• Developing a treatment plan that addresses both issues: Substance Use Disorder and Domestic Violence

At least 70% of women at Healing House identified as domestic violence survivors will participate in Melissa’s program.