New shelter added in addition to the portfolio of housing options available through the Coalition including emergency shelter and transitional housing.
OXNARD, Calif., March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Coalition for Family Harmony (Coalition) is proud to announce a second domestic violence shelter serving indigenous survivors of domestic violence that opened in February 2023. Coalition was awarded funding from Cal OES in a competitive application to provide emergency housing to a specialized population. Using a peer-based model of service, the new shelter is staffed with trilingual advocates of various languages to better serve survivors who hesitate to reach out because they are undocumented and have language barriers.
Coalition domestic violence counselors have long understood that when a survivor of domestic violence leaves their abusive partner, they are often forced to leave their home and their community to keep themselves and their children safe. These issues are compounded for victims of abuse from the indigenous community, as they find themselves in a country with few legal rights, a severe lack of language access, and a skyrocketing cost of living. Furthermore, indigenous survivors working in the agriculture sector or in factories oftentimes work at the same place of employment as their abuser and rely on shared friends and family to afford to live in Ventura County.
Severing ties with a community that provides spiritual healing and a sense of social connection can cause lasting mental and emotional harm for generations. Using a peer model, the goal of our new shelter is to create a safe space for our indigenous community members to have the time to heal, receive legal and therapeutic support, and help children with the impacts of domestic violence in their lives.
Through trilingual domestic violence support and advocacy, our new program emphasizes identifying avenues for income and housing to help the survivor maintain economic independence and build community with other survivors of domestic violence.
Since 1976, Coalition for Family Harmony has served survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Ventura County. The Coalition's mission is to provide direct services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; to educate the community regarding multiple forms of violence; and to prevent the cycle of violence. Since its inception, Coalition has helped save thousands of lives and stop the deadly cycle of violence in families.
Since then, the agency has transformed to address multiple factors in the cycle of violence including victims, perpetrators, children who have witnessed or experienced family violence, early prevention, and socioeconomic barriers victims may have prevented them from thriving. These barriers include safe and permanent housing, accessing mental health services, and legal counsel or representation in cases related to their victimization such as restraining orders, property disputes, child custody, divorce, and immigration. Last year, the Coalition served over 5,000 clients across all programming.
"Our indigenous communities suffer in silence, not knowing that there is help for them. We will work hard to break the barriers that make it difficult for them to leave abusive relationships. The shelter will be a haven where they can get all the help they need in a way that they understand and feel understood," said Laura Morales, Housing Services Manager.
The new shelter is in addition to the portfolio of housing options available through the Coalition including emergency shelter and transitional housing.
Survivors may call our 24-hour trilingual hotline at 800-300-2181.
Media Contact
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SOURCE Coalition for Family Harmony
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