Someplace Safe filled to max capacity
The only shelter for woman and children who are victims of domestic violence in Trumbull County is seeing unprecedented demand.
WARREN, Ohio - The only shelter for woman and children who are victims of domestic violence in Trumbull County is seeing unprecedented demand.
Someplace Safe in Warren is filled to capacity, something that's becoming routine after seeing an increase in demand for assistance over the past few years.
The shelter's director says she's seeing larger families with young children who are trying to escape domestic violence and in some cases, drug abuse.
"Recently it has really, really impacted us," said Bonnie Wilson, director of Someplace Safe in Warren.
After a wave of heroin and drug overdoses earlier this year in Trumbull County, Someplace Safe was forced to invest in air mattresses and to start a waiting list for women and children needing somewhere to stay.
"We're seeing more victims come into our shelter who come in with a substance use or substance abuse issue," she said.
She asks those individuals to be honest about their troubles with addiction before entering the shelter. Drug use within the facility will not be tolerated.
Wilson says it's also not uncommon for a woman's significant other to have a drug addiction problem. She believes the drug epidemic is a contributing factor that's fueling a higher number of domestic violence cases.
From 2015 to 2016, Someplace Safe saw a 25 percent increase in demand for assistance.
In 2016, the shelter took in 126 adults and 133 children. In 2017 she believes those numbers will go higher.
"This is not just a Someplace Safe Issue, this is an issue that affects everyone," she said.
Wilson says the organization recently hired a new case manager to help women set goals and get out of situations that could turn violent. She says the organization is applying for grant money to possibly obtain a third case worker next year.
With the increase in demand, the organization is working with other shelters to find room for everyone in need.
It's also going through resources quickly. Wilson says they need donations, especially snacks and back to school supplies for the children that are staying at the shelter.
