October marks the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the widespread issue of domestic violence. It is during this month that we are challenged to not only educate ourselves about domestic violence but to empower survivors and promote avenues for prevention and support.

At Ruth’s House, we are dedicated to providing a safe haven for those who have experienced domestic violence. We offer a safe home and the 24-hour a day professional help needed to help survivors rebuild their lives and regain their independence. Every single day staff at Ruth’s House help our residents to gain self-confidence and build the skills needed to move forward with their lives in a safe and healthy environment. This story is best told by one of our past residents, JB who shares her story, “Ruth’s House opened up so many opportunities for me. Not just as a safe environment for myself and my kids but more than that. The staff helped me through so many difficult times in my life and they did this without judgment. It was kind of like my own on-call therapist. And they helped me with positive choices that affected me and my kids. They made me feel cared about when so many others didn’t. They have fully helped me get my life back on track and to continue being a great mom for my kids.” Another Ruth’s House resident says, “Ruth’s House empowered me to find my voice so I could set healthy boundaries for my life, take charge of my health, become confident as a first-time mother, and realize I can do anything I set my mind to!”

Ruth’s House has been serving the needs of women and children surviving domestic violence in Rice County for nearly 20 years. Sadly, we are unable to meet all of the needs in our community because we operate at full capacity much of the time and there are times when we are unable to take in any new residents. We are grateful for the support of the community to continue our mission and it is our hope to be able to increase our capacity in the future.

During the month of October, we are focusing the public’s attention on supporting survivors by highlighting the importance of providing a safe haven and resources for those who have experienced domestic violence. By offering assistance in the form of shelters, counseling, legal aid, and more, we can help survivors rebuild their lives and regain their independence.

We all need to acknowledge the issue, support survivors, and work together to create a world where everyone can live free from fear and abuse. As we don purple ribbons and participate in awareness campaigns, let us remember that our collective efforts can make a difference in the lives of countless individuals affected by domestic violence. Together, we can be a beacon of hope and change in the fight against this deeply ingrained problem.