Women Against Abuse Inc

WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE IS A LEADING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE PROVIDER AND ADVOCATE LOCATED IN PHILADELPHIA, PA. THE MISSION OF WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE IS TO PROVIDE QUALITY, COMPASSIONATE, AND NONJUDGMENTAL SERVICES IN A MANNER THAT FOSTERS SELF-RESPECT AND INDEPENDENCE IN PERSONS EXPERIENCING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND TO LEAD THE STRUGGLE TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THROUGH ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION. THE ORGANIZATION FULFILLS THIS MISSION THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE SERVED 7,079 PEOPLE THROUGH ONE OR MORE OF ITS SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDE EMERGENCY SAFE HAVEN, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, A COMMUNITY-BASED SAFE AT HOME PROGRAM, LEGAL AID, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE, HOTLINE COUNSELING, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY. THESE SERVICES MAKE A TANGIBLE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY BY EMPOWERING THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED VIOLENT RELATIONSHIPS TO HEAL AND EMBRACE FUTURES OF SAFETY AND HOPE.

WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE SERVES AS THE LEAD OPERATOR OF THE PHILADELPHIA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE - A STREAMLINED POINT OF ACCESS FOR CRISIS INTERVENTION, INFORMATION, REFERRALS AND INTAKE TO THE EMERGENCY SAFE HAVENS. THIS 24-HOUR HOTLINE RECEIVED 10,218 CALLS IN FY21, WITH 68% OF CALLERS IDENTIFYING AS A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.NEW IN FY21, WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE BEGAN OFFERING WEB CHATTING AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE PHILADELPHIA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE. ADDING THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY MAKES CRISIS INTERVENTION, SAFETY PLANNING AND REFERRALS TO RESOURCES MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT CALL THE HOTLINE. WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LAUNCHED WEBCHAT IN MID NOVEMBER 2020 WITH AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN, AND IT IS AVAILABLE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM NOON TO 8:00 PM EASTERN VIA WWW.WOMENAGAINSTABUSE.ORG.WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE ALSO OPERATES THE ONLY EMERGENCY SAFE HAVENS IN PHILADELPHIA SPECIFICALLY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS; TWO FACILITIES COMPRISED OF A TOTAL OF 200 BEDS FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE HAD TO FLEE THEIR HOMES TO ESCAPE ABUSE. THE EMERGENCY SAFE HAVENS ARE UNIQUELY EQUIPPED WITH 24-HOUR SECURITY, CONFIDENTIAL LOCATIONS, AND A CONTINUUM OF ON-SITE CARE, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, CHILDREN'S SERVICES AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPY. SINCE ITS GRASSROOTS BEGINNING MORE THAN 45 YEARS AGO, THE EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES HAD BEEN A REFUGE TO SURVIVORS WHO IDENTIFY AS WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. IN JANUARY OF 2019, WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE OPENED ITS DOORS TO WELCOME SURVIVORS OF ALL GENDER IDENTITIES AND SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS. THIS CHANGE WAS PROPELLED BY A COMMITMENT TO BEING INCLUSIVE TO SURVIVORS WHO IDENTIFY AS MEN, TRANS, OR ARE GENDER NONCONFORMING.THE EMERGENCY SAFE HAVENS REMAINED OPEN THROUGHOUT COVID-19, ALTHOUGH THE PANDEMIC DID EFFECT OCCUPANCY RATES AND TOTAL NUMBER SERVED, SINCE MEASURES HAD TO BE TAKEN TO ENSURE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS AND STAFF. THE CHILDREN'S SERVICES TEAM AT WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE CARES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTAL AND ACADEMIC NEEDS OF THE YOUNGEST VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SERVING CHILDREN AND YOUTH THROUGH AN EARLY LEARNING CENTER AS WELL AS AN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM AND SUMMER CAMP. THESE CHILDREN'S SERVICES - WHICH ARE NORMALLY AVAILABLE ON-SITE TO RESIDENTS AT EACH OF WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE'S SAFE HAVENS, AS WELL AS ITS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM - WERE PROVIDED REMOTELY FROM MARCH 2020 UNTIL APRIL 2021 DUE TO COVID-19.THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP SESSIONS TO ADULT AND CHILD SURVIVORS AT EACH OF WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE'S RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS, IN ORDER TO EMPOWER SURVIVORS TO MANAGE THE SYMPTOMS OF THEIR TRAUMA AND BEGIN TO HEAL. THERAPISTS ADAPTED TO PROVIDE VIRTUAL SESSIONS TO CLIENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC, THUS ENSURING THIS IMPORTANT SUPPORT WAS STILL AVAILABLE.

THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER IS ONE OF THE NATION'S FIRST LEGAL AID PROGRAMS DEDICATED TO THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE ORGANIZATION EMPOWERS WOMEN AND MEN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED TO NAVIGATE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION, COURT ADVOCACY AND TELEPHONE COUNSELING. ATTORNEYS REPRESENT VICTIMS SEEKING PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDERS, CHILD CUSTODY AND/OR SUPPORT. LAST YEAR, THIS PROGRAM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AFFILIATED WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER, INC., SERVED 2,327 INDIVIDUALS. PHILADELPHIA FAMILY COURT DID NOT RESUME IN PERSON OPERATIONS UNTIL JULY 2021, SO ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION WAS PROVIDED VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE IN FY21.IN ADDITION TO ITS DIRECT SERVICES, THE LEGAL CENTER IS ALSO HIGHLY ENGAGED IN SYSTEMS CHANGE WORK THAT WILL IMPROVE PHILADELPHIA'S RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY ENSURING EFFECTIVE SCREENING AND INTERVENTION FOR VICTIMS, WHILE HOLDING PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE AND OFFERING THEM ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE. LEGAL CENTER LEADERSHIP WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE COURTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SECTOR TO ENSURE THAT ACCESS POINTS REMAINED AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO FILE FOR CRUCIAL PROTECTIONS FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN A TIMELY WAY DURING COVID-19. WE WERE EVEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO HAVE THEM DELIVER PETITIONS TO DEFENDANTS, SO THAT OUR CLIENTS WERE NOT FORCED TO TRAVEL AND BE EXPOSED TO POSSIBLE DANGER DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE ENSURES THAT SURVIVORS ARE NOT FORCED TO RETURN TO ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS DUE TO FINANCIAL OR HOUSING INSTABILITY THROUGH THE SOJOURNER HOUSE AND SAFE AT HOME PROGRAMS. SOJOURNER HOUSE IS AN 18-MONTH TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDING ON-SITE SERVICES SUCH AS CASE MANAGEMENT, CHILD CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, LIFE-SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND HOUSING OPTIONS COUNSELING. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, 55 ADULTS AND CHILDREN RECEIVED HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES AT SOJOURNER HOUSE. THIS REPRESENTS A 40% DECREASE COMPARED TO FY20, AND IS LARGELY ATTRIBUTED TO A FREEZE ON NEW INTAKES NECESSITATED BY FACILITY REPAIRS, AS WELL AS A SCARCITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR CLIENTS TO MOVE INTO.THE SAFE AT HOME PROGRAM PROVIDES COMMUNITY-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT, PAIRED WITH HOUSING ASSISTANCE, TO EMPOWER SURVIVORS TO SUSTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM AN ABUSIVE PARTNER. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO MAINTAIN SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHILE DEVELOPING FINANCIAL LITERACY AND LIFE-SKILLS FOR LONG-TERM SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE SAFE AT HOME PROGRAM ALSO AIMS TO STRENGTHEN LINKAGES BETWEEN CLIENTS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS. THE 140 PEOPLE WHO BENEFITTED FROM THIS PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 21 ARE BETTER POSITIONED TO SUSTAIN SAFE HOUSING AND OVERCOME OBSTACLES THAT MAY COMPROMISE THEIR FAMILIES' LONG-TERM SAFETY AND STABILITY.IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED INTEGRATING ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMING INTO ITS RESIDENTIAL SERVICES TO EQUIP CLIENTS TO ACHIEVE THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS AND SUSTAIN THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. COVID-19 LIMITED CLIENTS' ABILITY TO ACTIVELY LOOK FOR EMPLOYMENT OR FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION DURING FY2021, SINCE PARENTS HAD TO SHIFT THEIR ATTENTION TO THEIR CHILDREN AMID VIRTUAL SCHOOLING FROM HOME AND THE CLOSURES OF DAYCARES, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SUMMER CAMPS. WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE WORKED WITH CLIENTS TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES NEEDED TO LOOK FOR JOBS, PARTICIPATE IN REMOTE MEETINGS AND APPOINTMENTS AND SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S' LEARNING.