Domestic violence project needs cash

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) - As people struggle to find work and pay their bills homes throughout the Miami Valley are becoming more volative and dangerous. Social workers say victims of domestic abuse are finding it all the more difficult to leave a bad situation because they fear it could be even worse.

Helen is taking steps to leave behind an abusive relationship with the help of Project Woman . Her first stop was the shelter. Now she lives in an low-rent apartment the organization offers. Project woman is located in Springfield but the shelter is at a secret location elsehere in the county. The organization had hoped to bring the shelter and the office space together at one location but that capital campaign has been put on hold because the shelter has to deal with $80,000 in budget cuts. Another campaign has been launched, SOS, Sponsor Our Shelter.

The shelter provides 16 beds, several cribs, and a playroom. There's a kitchen where women cook their own meals and Project Woman operates a crisis line 24/7. Tyra Jackson is the executive director. Jackson says when women or men are abused at home they're less likely to show up for work and children caught in the middle tend to miss school.

Dozens of push pins on a map on the wall at the office represent just how widespread domestic violence is in Clark County and Project Woman only marks the most serious cases.

Helen told 2 NEWS, "It got to the point I tried do everything he wanted me to do. I tried to make it perfect by the time he got home and if it wasn't there was verbal abuse."  Helen found reason to leave her husband when she had the opportunity to adopt a child bound for foster care but Project Woman says too many women, men too, don't leave their abusers. Jackson says they need to keep the shelter running to forever give victims an alternative.

"At one time I never thought there was hope and I look at myslef now and say wow i am doing it," Helen said.

With a $20 donation to the SOS campaign you'll get a purple ribbon pin and thanks from people like Helen.

It was the county's Mental Health Recovery Board that cut the $80,000 in funding and Project woman says it's been told don't count on that money coming back in the next five years. The organization says it will be looking for additional grant support but in the meantime if you would like to help the organization, go to their web site www.projectwomanohio.org/ .