Southeastern IN — Safe Passage, Inc. recently experienced the highest number of crisis calls to date on the hotline service with 90 calls for the month of August 2022. This is on top of a 139% increase in shelter clients since January, and a 142% increase in overnight stays at the 30-bed shelter.
Safe Passage is the sole support provider of domestic and violence services for six counties in Southeast Indiana: Dearborn, Ripley, Franklin, Ohio, Switzerland, and Jefferson counties.
“It’s not just one thing, but a myriad of reasons for this record increase…from the pandemic and stress to a need for safe shelter due to the housing shortage,” said Kim Bohman, Director of Empowerment Services. “On a more positive note, the increase in calls is also attributed to our amazing collaborative partners who share information about the free supportive services offered through Safe Passage. We know the more who know about us, the more we can serve.”
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. The nonprofit is bringing attention to this local and national community issue through various awareness activities.
The severity and lethality of recent Domestic Violence (DV) cases have increased since the pandemic.
The Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence reported 98 DV-related homicides between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021, a 181% increase. The Safe Passage local service region is not immune.
In 2021, Kristina Asche-Jones of Holton lost her life in a domestic violence homicide. In imposing the 65-year sentence in June 2022, the judge said aggravating factors led to the increased sentence, and that there was evidence of an escalating domestic violence relationship.
Her family and friends held a benefit in Versailles and recently presented a $5,000 check to Safe Passage in appreciation and support of the non-profit’s life-saving mission of providing help, healing, and hope to domestic violence survivors and their children. The family does not want others to ever experience the pain of losing someone like Krissy from domestic violence and is committed to promoting awareness.
Domestic and sexual violence is about power and control, and is not limited to physical abuse; it can be verbal, sexual, emotional, neglect and isolation, or financial. On average the local nonprofit serves 1,300 a year through the toll-free help and TEXT line, the 30-bed shelter, or the nonresidential programming (for those who don’t need emergency shelter but do need support).
Established 25 years ago, Safe Passage has helped 16,000 survivors and their children escape from a lifestyle of violence. Services include shelter, transportation, legal advocacy, emergency hospital response, job and housing assistance, children’s programming, counseling, wellness, and life skills.
“Everyone deserves to have a healthy, loving, and respectful relationship, no matter what,” said Cari Kettman, Safe Passage Executive Director. “We want to emphasize and spread the message that there is a place of help, healing, and hope for those survivors and their children.”
Plans are underway to bring awareness to the issue of domestic and sexual violence during October. Banners and electronic messages will be displayed in all of the counties the nonprofit serves.
Other activities include:
- Text signs placed in each of the six counties in Safe Passage’s service area.
- Radio announcements during the month to focus on Domestic Violence and Safe Passage services.
- IGA lunch Cookout in Brookville on October 7 with all proceeds to Safe Passage.
- 30 Care gift bags to be distributed throughout the service area to law enforcement, courts, prosecutors, and collaborative partners. These care bags include panel information cards, tear-away and fact sheets, appointment cards, magnets, and more.
- Vases for Victims. Uniquely designed vases by Batesville artists and supporters will be featured throughout the month at Precision Hair Salon and Shear Magic in Batesville. $10 to $30 with all proceeds donated to Safe Passage.
- “Lollipop Moment” 25-year centerpieces placed at the tables at Amack’s Well coffee shop in Batesville during October; Share your Lollipop moment (where an individual is positively impacted by another’s words or actions, often unknowingly), take a Tootsie Pop, and sign a message for a survivor.
- The public is encouraged to post an uplifting, encouraging message to survivors during the month on Safe Passage’s social media: https://padlet.com/safepassage47006/93h6edoxc31sta3e. Messages can be anonymous.
- October 20 is “Wear Purple Day” to support the survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Please take a photo and post it on social media: facebook.com/helphealinghope.
“We couldn’t offer this level of support without our fabulous community partners, from the schools and hospitals to the courts and corporations. We are all in this together!” said Kettman.
For more information about domestic or sexual violence go to www.safepassageinc.org, call or text 877-733-1990.
(Safe Passage, Inc. press release)
