Crisis Center Celebrates 100% Success Rate During Awareness Month

TINLEY PARK, IL — Almost two years ag,o Millie fled a very violent relationship. She found the courage to leave despite having no job, a poor credit history and no place to go. Professional counselors at the Crisis Center for South Suburbia helped her process the trauma and worked to improve her self-esteem. She eventually got a job, moved into a Transitional Housing apartment, improved her credit, started a savings plan and today is preparing to close on the purchase of a condo in a few weeks.

According to the crisis center, this past year has posed many challenges for businesses, organizations and shelters, like the Crisis Center. The center serves victims of domestic violence through a variety of programs including the transitional housing program.

The program is a two-year housing program that helps families live independently in community-based apartments while they improve their job skills, advance education and repair damaged credit, according to the center. The program features 25 apartment units and last year provided over 9,000 nights of housing. One of those who benefited from the program was Millie.

Millie’s path is similar to other clients living in transitional housing. The program has seen a gradual, but significant increase in the numbers of survivors that secure permanent housing and never return to their abuser, the center said. Within the last year, 100 percent of these clients did not return to their abuser upon leaving the program and found permanent housing for themselves and their children, according to the center.

"Some of the credit for that success goes to the case managers and how diligently they work to improve clients’ credit and find the resources that each client needs to become self-sufficient," Stacey Jones, director of clinical services at the crisis center said. Jones gives most of the credit to the clients for their own determination and hard work.

"Our clients work very hard to achieve their goals and are very motivated to live a life free from fear, isolation, and abuse," Jones said.

The center said paramount to the success of these survivors are the community partners and donors who make it possible for the program to operate and clients to secure resources. These resources include ride-sharing programs for transportation, help with child care costs, and emergency needs like car repairs.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Crisis Center is coordinating a variety of activities and events throughout the month, including the #31derfulways fundraising campaign. The organization hopes that community members will each donate $31, which will benefit survivors like Millie and the housing, counseling, advocacy and education programs offered at the Crisis Center.

The center said many community members and supporters are also showing their support this month by turning their porch lights purple, tying purple ribbons on their trees and posting signs in their windows showing that they support victims of domestic violence.

For more information about domestic violence, visit www.crisisctr.org or call the 24-hour hotline at 708-429-SAFE.