Empowerment
Our women’s shelters offer refuge for women escaping acts of domestic violence or intimate partner violence. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines IPV as any behavior within an intimate relationship by an intimate partner that causes physical, psychological, or sexual harm to those in the relationship. It has been recognized as a public health problem with far-reaching consequences for the physical, reproductive, and mental health of women. In a study done by WHO, women who had experienced abuse reported poorer health, more emotional distress, and more suicidal thoughts and attempts than those who had not experienced abuse.
The effect of abuse can trickle down to so many areas in an individual’s life as abuse limits a woman’s decision-making power regarding her reproductive health, putting her at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies. Partner violence during pregnancy can then be associated with poor attendance to antenatal and postnatal care, increasing the risk of having low birth-weight infants or preterm births and intensive care admission of the newborn.
More H.O.P.E. Community Care creates an environment where a women will learn to prioritize their well being and safety. Researchers have proposed different theories and frameworks to explain and understand violence against women. These are important, as they can guide the design of effective prevention and intervention strategies. Many women are afraid to leave either due to societal pressures or financial dependence. As a result, some become homeless in this situation because they are financially dependent on their abuser and these resources help to incentivize and support escape. We will assist in the beginning stages of healing and starting a new journey. Not only will we provide shelter and food, but we will also provide education and therapy to help push through what may have been one of the most traumatic experiences of their lives.
We aim to be discrete as we encourage, empower, and give hope to every woman that comes to us for help.