The Retreat’s mission is to provide safety, shelter and support for victims of domestic abuse and to break the cycle of family violence. In pursuit of our mission, The Retreat annually provides help for thousands of families. 2007 Services:
• Shelter occupancy rate has been 86% throughout 2007
• Provided approximately 2,162 counseling servicess
• Provided approximately 3,512 legal advocacy services
• Responded to 1,751 hotline calls
• Received 2,581 police reports
• Provided community education for approximately 1,207 individuals
• Screened 176 batterers mandated by the courts
• A total of 71 volunteers
• Reached approximately 4,482 students with Retreat’s in-school
violence prevention education programs
The Retreat. Where domestic violence ends and hope begins.
I came to the Retreat with bruises and two broken ribs. I was about as depressed as any person could possibly be. I thought that my life was over and that things would never get better after all I left my home, job, and husband and now living in a shelter for abused women. After a few days, I began to realize that the staff and even some of the other women were being genuinely nice to me and that I could get back my life. It took longer than I thought it would but with help from the Retreat I was able to get an order of protection, begin custody proceedings, and more importantly, got a job and moved into an apartment with my children.
- name withheld