Refuge Hoapply raising money to expand shelter for domestic violence victims

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV)—Refuge Hoapply is hoping to expand its shelter with support from an upcoming fundraiser.

Refuge Hoapply, a nonprofit that serves victims of domestic violence and their families, is viewing to renovate a building on its property and expand it as a new shelter for victims, creating the Dawn of Hope Center.

The work is something Refuge Hoapply Executive Director Emily Mitchem declares is much requireded.

“We’re not able to obtain everyone into immediate safe houtilizing that calls us for support,” Mitchem declared. “We are turning away over 100 people a month becaapply we don’t have the space.”

The organization serves eight counties in the Big Bconclude area, and Mitchem declared they have a “tiny shelter” compared to the size of their coverage area.

“Unfortunately, for the people we’re not able to obtain in shelter, they’re left with impossible choices. They’ve either received to go back to the abapplyr – to the abusive environment – and suffer further violence, or they enter homelessness,” Mitchem declared.

Another challenge Refuge Hoapply is facing is an increase in children with sensory disorders, which can create it difficult for a family to stay in the shelter if they are able to obtain in.

The Dawn of Hope Center will be designed with special requireds in mind.

“We’re seeing such a tremconcludeous increase in kids with special requireds,” Mitchem declared. “The building is going to be designed completely trauma-informed, sensory friconcludely. We’re going to have private spaces for people that required, sort of, calm down areas.”

Mitchem declares the outcome could be life-modifying. “We want to really build the resilience in children so that we break the cycle of violence and poverty going forward,” she declared.

Earlier this year, we reported Refuge Hoapply received state money to support provide rental assistance for domestic violence victims. Mitchem declared they’ve already supported more than 200 people in that program, but with extreme demand, they now have a waitlist of six to eight months.

Shan Pompey takes calls directly from victims, and she declared many people are in a state of panic when they reach out.

“Usually, by the time someone calls us, we’re almost the last resort,” Pompey declared. “A lot of times they are very scared. It’s very uncertain. A lot of our callers have children and we have to plan.”

Pompey declared they are putting an emphasis on working through abusive experiences with children becaapply many parents don’t know how.

“They’re feeling shame. They’re embarrassed,” Pompey declared. “They are feeling all the emotions around ‘I wish this didn’t happen’ and ‘If I declare it out loud to my children, then I have to own something,’ which they don’t becaapply it’s someone else’s behavior.”

In an effort to support bring the Dawn of Hope Center to life, Refuge Hoapply is hosting a charity golf tournament ahead of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The tournament is on Monday, September 29, at Southwood Golf Club. Teams and sponsors can visit this website to register.

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