Advent Calendar Day 14: Two Against Gender Violence

ECS Julian’s Housing Program for Women & Children
And Shelter from the Storm

As the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign (Nov 25 – Dec 10) closes for 2011 the need to raise awareness and the need to offer haven and hope for victims will continue. Today two such programs are highlighted, one in the San Diego area and part of our efforts through ECS and one here in the Coachella Valley and supported by St. Margaret’s over the years.

The Julian’s Housing Program for Women & Children provides supportive, transitional housing for women and children escaping the perils of domestic violence. The program serves women over the age of 18 and their children who are homeless as a result of fleeing domestic violence. Introduction to the Program on the web page

It is hard to believe that for many years, even in a community as caring as the Coachella Valley, violence against women and children was the dirty little secret that no one wanted to talk about. Finally, in 1988, recognizing how desperate the need, a group of women and men came together determined to find a way to help. In 1993 they opened what is still the Coachella Valley’s only emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence. … Yet, as important as shelters are, they are not the answer for everyone. Recognizing this and acutely aware of many unmet needs, we made a commitment to create a continuum of services that would offer domestic violence victims the best possible chance to create safe and healthy lives. President’s Message from the website for Shelter from the Storm

Mission Statement of ECS

Serving God by serving those in need.

For the rest of the story: ECS Julian’s Housing Program for Women & Children (web page).
ECS Julian’s Hosing Program for Women & Children (PDF brochure)

Mission Statement of Shelter from the Storm

Shelter From The Storm provides comprehensive services to victims of domestic violence—professionally, ethically, and compassionately.

For the rest of the story: Shelter from the Storm

Hear what the Spirit is saying.

Advent Calendar in one place
About the Online Advent Calendar

For further reflection

More than just a “shelter,” Julian’s Housing Program is a place to heal from emotional and physical wounds of abuse while acquiring self-esteem and independence. Services provided include:

18–24 months of transitional housing in a safe and confidential location
Intensive case management
Life skills training
Domestic violence prevention education
Referrals to substance abuse prevention services
Partnership with career guidance agencies

Julian’s Housing Program Brochure (a PDF file)

Shelter from the Storm, in the Coachella Valley, provides the same services as Julian’s Housing Program and, like Julian’s Housing Program, counts on the support of faith communities like St. Margaret’s.

Prevalence of Domestic Violence in the United States

• On average more than three women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States. In 2005, 1,181 women were murdered by an intimate partner.
• In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published data collected in 2005 that finds that women experience two million injuries from intimate partner violence each year.
• Nearly one in four women in the United States reports experiencing violence by a current or former spouse or boyfriend at some point in her life.
• Women are much more likely than men to be victimized by a current or former intimate partner. Women are 84 percent of spouse abuse victims and 86 percent of victims of abuse at the hands of a boyfriend or girlfriend and about three-fourths of the persons who commit family violence are male.
• There were 248,300 rapes/sexual assaults in the United States in 2007, more than 500 per day, up from 190,600 in 2005. Women were more likely than men to be victims; the rate for rape/sexual assault for persons age 12 or older in 2007 was 1.8 per 1,000 for females and 0.1 per 1,000 for males.
• The United States Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that 3.4 million persons said they were victims of stalking during a 12-month period in 2005 and 2006. Women experience 20 stalking victimizations per 1,000 females age 18 and older, while men experience approximately seven stalking victimizations per 1,000 males age 18 and older.

Source: Futures Without Violence website.
Document: Get the Facts: The Facts on Domestic, Dating and Sexual Violence. Includes links to the reports documenting the facts presented here.

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Photo: ECS Julian’s Housing Progrm Brochure