Special to the Sun
We at Catholic Charities are excited to know that in the near future the goal of a new Domestic Violence Shelter will be realized in the city of Jackson. Early 2018, a newly renovated and restored building will be providing a safe haven for adults and children suffering from the trauma of domestic violence and human trafficking.
Catholic Charities has provided this critical service since the 1980s and very soon we will be able to do so in a building specifically designed to serve this vulnerable population. It is challenging enough for an adult to leave a destructive relationship, but it is daunting to do so with children and youth who may or may not understand the gravity of the situation.
Our new shelter will be able to serve the children at each developmental stage while their parent or caregiver receives the support to begin again. We are so grateful for our dedicated staff at Charities who accompany our brothers and sisters who suffer so unjustly, as well as for our benefactors whose generosity allows us to further our mission to serve and empower. Together we are a visible sign of Christ’s love.
The facility will be divided into three main functions: a shelter, a childcare and offices for the administrative staff. The shelter will include eight bedrooms beautifully designed to meet the individual needs of the family. Staff members will be housed on-site to assist victims twenty-four hours a day. Other amenities will include a therapeutic group and counseling area, a suite of offices to assist victims, a family room, dining area, and bathing facilities. The shelter will be confidentially located and will serve Copiah, Hinds, Rankin, Madison, Issaquena, Sharkey, Simpson, Yazoo, and Warren counties.
The childcare program will offer individual and therapeutic groups/intervention to thirty-five children ranging in ages from six weeks to twelve years old. Trained staff and teachers will work in the program. The child care program will offer enrichment activities with a well-designed playground in the rear of the building. Finally, a commercial grade food preparation area will be onsite to prepare meals and snacks for the victims and children.
While reading this article, we ask that you help bring us closer to making a new shelter program a reality for victims. Many victims feel hopeless without a safe place to stay and that they will never get past the trauma of domestic violence. Providing Help. Creating Hope...for all of God’s children.
