By Kayla Woody, House of Hope DVPI Prevention Specialist
The CPN House of Hope is excited to mark the five-year anniversary of its domestic violence shelter in Pottawatomie County. The shelter and the agency’s domestic and sexual violence services have grown over the years, and many individuals have found safety from dangerous intimate partner situations.
The shelter had its grand opening on Sept. 11, 2017, the fifth of seven tribal shelters in the state, and provided services to individuals within the week. When asked about the process for the opening of the shelter, House of Hope Director Tiffany Barrett said the Tribe saw the need for this type of service and provided the building, ready to go, for the organization. Over the years, the shelter has been able to help more than 170 individuals. HOH has even been able to provide safety to individuals as far as California and Tennessee.
Currently, shelter services are open to women and their children that are experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking. This service provides victims with a safe and private location to reside while trying to decide their next steps. A caring advocate team is available 24/7 to help navigate through the confusion and devastation that violence has caused them. Occupancy allows four women with children and two single individuals and offers many of the same comforts that these individuals would find at a private residence and that meets their basic needs. Residents can even participate in skill-building activities and self-care projects.
When asked about the past five years, Barrett said it has been a tremendously educational experience.
“We have learned so much from residents during this time,” she said. “We have gained so much knowledge from these individuals when they open up about the abuse that they have experienced.”
To celebrate the anniversary, the House of Hope’s advocates have created a T-shirt quilt that will be donated to another local domestic violence organization. Project Safe of Shawnee will host their annual Honey Do Auction on Thursday, October 6. The quilt will be auctioned off, and all proceeds will go to survivors of domestic violence. The T-shirts used in the quilt have been designed each year by the House of Hope’s prevention team to provide inspiration, awareness, education and encouragement.
For more information regarding the Honey Do Auction, please reach out to Renee Clemmons of Project Safe at 405-273-9953. If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence, sexual assault, or stalking and would like more information, please contact House of Hope at 405-275-3176 or visit us online at facebook.com/cpnhouseofhope or cpnhouseofhope.com.