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Date: 3/8/2021
HOLYOKE – A local non-profit is continuing their mission to help victims and victims of domestic abuse despite restrictions keeping them from gathering in person.
Executive Director of Womanshelter Companeras Carmen Nieves said despite the coronavirus pandemic their mission has remained the same, “live free from domestic violence.” The non-profit organization was started by three women named Jane more than 40 years ago. Now, she said, they have a staff of 33 people and a budget of $1.5 million.
She said “90 percent” of what the non-profit does is to provide “direct services” for survivors of domestic violence including providing housing via shelters for both men and women in need.
However, how services have been provided have shifted since the coronavirus pandemic began last March. Nieves said that despite other shelters being forced to close their doors to services at the time of the pandemic hitting the area, Womanshelter Companeras remained open. “We were one of the few shelters that remained open. We have a 33 bed shelter, we found a way to stay open following all the protocols,” she said.
She said while it was “very difficult for us to do,” they were “very proud we were able to do that for families.” Nieves said they served 122 families throughout the pandemic with 83 of them being housed in their shelter at some point and the others being placed in temporary housing.
“The remaining [families] were in hotels because of social distancing and quarantining, all that happens,” she said.
However, she said the staff couldn’t take all the credit as the community and stakeholders played a significant role as well. “It was in great part our community, not just our funders, but people reaching out to see if we needed anything for our families,” Nieves said.
One of the services offered by the organization that was impacted, she explained, was the ability to provide court advocates for survivors seeking restraining orders. Prior to the pandemic, she said advocates helped an average of “about 150 people per month.” However, “when the pandemic hit, no one could go to court.”
She said since then courts have transitioned to virtual appointments, but “unfortunately, the numbers have risen now.” She said the courts have been “amazing,” but the “program was hit hard because of the pandemic.” Throughout the pandemic she said advocates were seeing “60 or 70 [survivors] a month,” however, now they were back to about 120 a month.
Their hotline, Nieves said, has continued to be busy throughout the pandemic, especially as survivors struggle to find a way to flee. “The shelter program was difficult for people to get on a bus or flee because of the pandemic, people couldn’t take them in. Hotel or shelter stays were much longer because of that,” she said. “Our hotline was always busy, survivors find a way to reach out when they need it.”
She said the number of calls to the hotline increased “because of the need of wanting to flee.” Nieves said, “they don’t have the respite of going to work, going to therapy. It wasn’t done virtually at first, it had just stopped.”
While they used to see upwards of “400 people a year” at their Race Street location, Nieves said they now “only see about 10 people face to face.” However, they have continued their counseling and support services for survivors virtually. One thing she has learned throughout the years, she said, was “survivors find a way.”
“They’re experts in keeping safe, we just provide a listening ear, and [help them] meet self identified goals and whatever they’re trying to accomplish to stay safe,” she said.
While they qualified for housing stabilization funds due to their shelter services, Nieves said the additional cost of housing they took on while putting families in hotels “has been very difficult.”
However, she emphasized that no matter what they “are so ready to help anyone who is feeling unsafe or in immediate danger.” She said, “Our outreach looks different, but we’re still here.”
She encouraged survivors, both men and women, along with family members and friends of survivors to reach out should they be in danger or need help in any way. “If they know someone living through domestic violence please reach out, make that referral, that’s the best thing they can do,” she said.
Nieves emphasized that all services were “free and confidential” and for a survivor to make the initial call was “very courageous.” She said, “We take that very seriously and are honored to be able to help with that.” Services are offered in English, Spanish and Russian.
While Womanshelter Companeras predominantly serves survivors in Hampden and Hampshire County, Nieves said due to the virtual nature of today’s world, they were “processing people all over the world with their local shelters.”
To connect with the organization, people can visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/womanshelter, their website https://www.womanshelter.org or by calling their hotline at 536-1628. Those interested in assisting the organization with a donation can do so by donating on their website via PayPal or by mailing a check to P.O. Box 299, Holyoke, MA 01040 or by donating to their wishlist which can be found at https://www.womanshelter.org/support-us/.