Victims of domestic violence return to their abusive mates seven times  on average — before ending the relationship or getting killed. For those who do return to a kind of living hell, 80 percent do so for economic reasons.

A new transitional housing village in Jackson County, which opens Nov. 1, has as its primary goal breaking this cycle and helping victims of domestic abuse gain the tools needed for economic independence.

“Crisis shelters are necessary, but they don’t go far enough,” said Elizabeth Worley, program development director for REACH of Jackson County.

With that in mind, five years ago the board of directors of Jackson County’s REACH committed itself to finding the means to build a “transitional village.” The apartment complex is for victims of domestic abuse who have moved beyond the crisis stage and are trying to find ways to support themselves and, in many cases, their children.

The 9-unit complex includes one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, a community center and eventually will have a playground and commons area. REACH received several grants to construct the $1.1 million project, but next year will kick off a capital campaign to help defray some of the costs for the complex, the only one of its kind west of Asheville. The village apartments will be open to domestic abuse victims from Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Graham, Clay and Cherokee counties, along with those from the Qualla Boundary.

“The first criteria for residents is that they are no longer in a crisis situation,” said Worley. Crisis shelters provide emergency residency to help victims get away from an imminently dangerous situation while the court-related protection measures are enacted. The village is for people who have taken these steps and are ready to find ways to move to the next level.

“All residents either have to be working or in school,” said Worley.

And the village is not free. It is HUD-certified and therefore those who qualify can receive federal rent assistance. Residents, however, will be responsible for utilities, cable, phone and child-care bills.
REACH will also act as a intermediary for a number of human service agencies that can provide help in other areas.

The village concept will hopefully allow the victims to work together in a kind of “communal” setting, said Worley.

“It will foster a sense of coming together,” she said.

Each resident will establish an “action plan” detailing what is needed to become independent and marking the steps in meeting that goal. Residents are llowed to remain in the apartments for a maximum of two years.

Worley credits REACH Executive Director Jean Bockstahler for conceiving the idea for the village and convincing the board of directors to give it a try.

“She saw pretty quickly that while an emergency shelter was necessary, it wasn’t enough. She was able to convey that to the board,” said Worley.

Perhaps one reason the grant writing was successful was due to the lack of rental housing in Western North Carolina and particularly Jackson County, said Worley.

“With two colleges, much of the rental property is hard to get. If it is available, many times it is substandard,” she said.

 

Home
The Smoky Mountain News