The Public Needs to Know

Assignment # 2.2 the Public Needs to Know Revised Version

Donna Gray

ENG – 115 English Composition

Tiffani Edinger

March 15, 2015

What is the benefit of a domestic violence shelter in your community?  A domestic violence shelter provides immediate benefits such as housing, mental health counseling, and legal assistance for the adults and children who could be facing abuse and homelessness. The housing offers security for the victim and allows them to rebuild their chances of reaching independence. A domestic violence shelter in our community will assist domestic violence victims by providing temporary housing, counseling, and legal representation which with this process the individual has a chance of regaining their lives.

 On March 21, 1909 a group of Charlotte businesses and churches within the community came together and formed the agency known as Associated Charities. Throughout the years, numerous changes took place within the organization. Several new programs were added to meet the needs of the community. The organization celebrated 100 years of service in 2009. In 2012, Safe Alliance relinquished its name from United Family Services. Safe Alliance has accommodated many victims with numerous services within our community (Safe Alliance, 2015).

The Clyde and Ethel Dickinson Domestic Violence Shelter was built in 2013 to aid citizens in the community affected by domestic violence. What is domestic violence? “Domestic violence and emotional abuse are behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other. Partners may be married or not married, heterosexual, gay, or lesbian, separated or dating” (Creative Communications Group, 2009).

The Clyde and Ethel Dickinson domestic violence shelter an 80 bed facility located here in Charlotte that serves over 900 women and children. There were private funding, fundraisers and sponsorship by the United Way that funded this new facility. Once a victim comes to our shelter for help there are procedures that are followed to determine the best way of assisting our client. Once the client is settled the counseling classes begin to determine the effects that the abuse has had on the victim. From this point forward our organization strives to provide the most adequate types of services available to ensure the client is safe. We are here to help them any way possible; however, it is the individual’s responsibility to accept the help being provided by the center.