Long-term transitional shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children.
As a long-term domestic violence shelter, Bethany House empowers survivors of domestic violence and their children. They provide long-term transitional shelter and advocacy to maximize safety, ensure access to resources, and restore hope with dignity and respect. Many survivors stay at Bethany House for more than a year. During that time, survivors direct their own healing. Instead of following a prescribed program, Bethany House advocates come alongside survivors to support the healing and growth each survivor envisions for herself.
People might be surprised to learn that it is not unusual for Bethany House to be serving just as many children who have come into shelter with their mothers as adult survivors. Responding to the needs of survivors of childhood domestic violence is a critical step in breaking the cycle of violence, which is why Bethany House employs a Youth Program Coordinator who serves the children in shelter with compassion and expertise.
The community can help Bethany House in so many ways. While the pandemic persists, Bethany House needs the community to host donation drives to keep our shelves stocked with frequently used items like paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and personal care products. Bethany House also needs the community to keep spreading the word and raising awareness about domestic violence in our region. Domestic violence impacts whole communities, and the difference we make by paying attention together can impact our whole community as well.
One of the many things that makes Bethany House unique is their ability to serve survivors of all genders and ages. For many reasons, domestic violence shelters are often not set up to accommodate teen boys, which can be a barrier to service for mothers of older boys. Bethany House fills that gap in service and makes space for survivors of all genders to find safe shelter. While most survivors of domestic violence are women, men can be victimized, too. It is important to the mission of Bethany House to make safe shelter as accessible as possible to every survivor in need.
While the individual stories of the survivors are private, Bethany House is proud of their individual successes. In the last several months many survivors have secured housing, one survivor started driver’s training, another obtained a higher paying job, and others have gone back to school! Every success is exciting and confirms that the shelter and advocacy Bethany House provides makes a real difference in survivors’ lives.
To learn more about Bethany House, visit their website at https://www.bethanyhousetoledo.org/, sign up for their newsletter, and follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BethanyHouseNWO.
We are so proud to have Bethany House as one of our Community Shares Agencies!
