“Should I just go back?”
Rita came to Doorways looking for safety. After coming to the conclusion that she needed to leave her abusive situation, Rita had to endure 
many challenges, including the risk of homelessness. The financial abuse she suffered prevented her from both meaningful employment and the skills needed to manage her money. Without anywhere left to turn, she bravely called Doorways and found a bed at our Safehouse.
Unfortunately, coming into our domestic violence shelter was only the first step in Rita’s pursuit to safety. Rita’s journey will not be over until she can find long-term, stable housing. While she has found temporary security in a shelter, affordable housing is the only cure to the cycle of abuse and homelessness that Rita seeks to end. And in her struggle to find an affordable home, Rita was left to ponder, “Should I just go back?” This is the part of the story often left untold.
Once women and families come into our shelters, our job is not finished until they can secure safe and stable housing. That is getting harder to do in these economic times. Last year, our Safehouse served a decreasing number of people – 20 households compared to 41 households the year before. Difficulty in finding affordable and safe housing has caused longer stays in our shelters. We have tried to address the issue by increasing our capacity to serve families in long-term housing – 85 households last year compared to 54 households the year before. But, the issue remains.
What is it going to take, as a community, to help people get beyond harm’s way? That is a question we need to ask of ourselves, our neighbors, and our community leaders. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, write a letter to the editor and talk to a neighbor about striving to end the cycle of abuse and homelessness that affects community members like Rita.
Join us for an awareness event as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Caroline Jones
