Unfortunately, many people in Illinois are victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence can occur in the form of physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse and sometimes a combination of all three. Many times the victims of this abuse do not have anywhere to go after they have been abused. To help these victims, many shelters have been set up around Illinois to provide a safe place for the victims to escape their abusers. However, many shelters are limited in their capabilities due to a lack of resources.
In order to help domestic violence shelters, the Mary Kay Foundation has donated $3 million to 150 shelters around the United States. Seven shelters in Illinois received $20,000 each. One local shelter, which currently houses 43 children, plans to hire a new child care worker using the funds from the donation. The shelter, in addition to providing a place for victims to stay, has various programs to aid the victims, as well.
Shelters provide a very valuable resource for victims of domestic violence. However, for most, it is just a temporary solution. People who need a more permanent solution may want to obtain an order of protection from the court. An order of protection prohibits the abuser from contacting the victim in any way. This includes prohibiting the abuser from coming within a certain distance of the victim, including the victim’s residence or place of employment. It also can prohibit the abuser from contacting the victim on the phone or through email. The length of the order of protection can also vary depending on the circumstances in each particular situation.
In most situations involving domestic violence, emotions run very high and people are not sure what to do. In Illinois, there are shelters available to victims and they may also be able to obtain an order of protection as a more permanent remedy to the abuse.
Source: Star Courier, “Freedom House shelter receives $20,000 grant” Oct. 31, 2013