Domestic Violence
Social Support “Domestic violence can be so isolating,” states Alondra, YWCA Support Group facilitator. “We found that providing a space for survivors to share stories and promote healing is a great way to bridge the gap from isolation to connection and support.” YWCA Spokane offers support groups for female-identifying survivors…
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In advance of Pathways Forward conversation on October 23rd, this blog focuses on the barriers survivors face in reporting domestic violence to law enforcement. Key challenges include fear of retaliation, lack of trust in police, privacy concerns, mandatory arrest policies, socioeconomic factors, and insufficient resources. Understanding these barriers is essential for improving support systems and ensuring survivor safety.
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What is CSO Advocacy? For some survivors of domestic violence, the Department of Social Health Services (DSHS) is their first stop while trying to find support for their situation. “It can be hard to navigate these systems for a lot of clients,” says M.E. Martin, YWCA Spokane CSO Advocate. “Many…
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The Complexities of Domestic Violence Protection Orders Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) are legal tools designed to offer safety to individuals experiencing domestic violence. While the intention is to offer protection, the legal process can leave survivors feeling disheartened and vulnerable. Understanding these challenges is crucial for anyone navigating the…
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Understanding the Issue In recent years, efforts to address domestic violence have increasingly focused on a critical aspect of safety: removing firearms from perpetrators. The presence of a firearm in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide for women by 500%. On June 21, 2024, the Supreme Court…
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Custom Jewelry Made by Women at YWCA will be sold in our Lobby May 2nd & 3rd to benefit our Safe Shelter What: Hope Stones Mother’s Day Jewelry Sale – find the perfect Mother’s Day gift for the mothers in your life. When: May 2nd & 3rd from 9:00am –…
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About YWCA Spokane’s Safe Shelter is an emergency shelter service for survivors in the Spokane and surrounding area who are fleeing imminent danger from abusive intimate partners. In 2023, our Safe Shelter served 130 adults and 118 dependents. Additionally, 85 adults and 95 dependents were accommodated with a hotel room.…
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About Mobile Housing Advocacy Everyone deserves safe and stable housing. The housing system is a complex and confusing process with resources and options that are always changing. YWCA Spokane Mobile Housing Advocates are a truly mobile team and meet clients out in the community. They help survivors of intimate partner…
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About DV Support Advocacy YWCA Spokane’s Domestic Violence Support Advocacy creates a welcoming and nonjudgmental space for survivors to unpack the complexities of their situation and feel heard. Through the intake process, Support Advocates listen to what the survivor’s current needs are and offer options. A component of this first…
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Fostering Community at YWCA Safe Shelter It would be hard to talk about YWCA Spokane’s Safe Shelter without talking to Melanie Wilson, Shelter Resource Coordinator, who has been with the agency for over 22 years. When Melanie first started with the agency, she was providing childcare at the shelter. She…
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About Our Therapy At YWCA Spokane, our Mental Health Therapy program specializes in short-term, trauma processing forms of therapy. “There are different types of therapies for different types of situations,” explains Melva Moore, Director of Mental Health Services, “But what we do best is focus on helping people process their…
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About Our Legal Services Interacting with the legal system is a complicated and lengthy undertaking for anyone. The process often takes completing a stack of paperwork and then knowing how to proceed from there. At YWCA Spokane, those served by our legal services are survivors of intimate partner domestic violence…
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PURPOSE YWCA Spokane’s Women’s Opportunity Center (WOC) offers a safe space for survivors of domestic violence to recover from trauma, explore economic growth, and build stability into their lives. WOC offers holistic, restorative services for those impacted by trauma. These groups and classes are aimed at supporting healing, wellness and…
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Purpose Our Sister’s Closet (OSC) is YWCA Spokane’s free boutique of women’s clothing that is available to anyone in the community who expresses a need. All of the clothing and necessities are generously donated to YWCA by the community. Impact For some of our clients, shopping the closet is the…
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Legal terms can be tricky. Understanding the difference between a protection order and a restraining order doesn’t come up often in day-to-day life, unless your favorite crime show mentions it; however, in cases of domestic violence, these terms and rules can be crucial for a survivor’s safety. We often receive…
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Domestic Violence Protection Orders: Frequently Asked Questions If you are applying for or considering a protection order, our team of legal advocates has put together a list of frequently asked questions for you to review. If you choose to review the answers, they can help you prepare for an appointment…
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Court proceedings can be difficult for survivors, through the emotions, barriers, and bureaucracy of the process. RCW 7.105 aims to provide some relief during this process by allowing survivors to receive more support while in court. Support Persons In Court Survivors can now bring a person of their choosing to…
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Recently, the Washington State Legislature enacted a new chapter of the Revised Code of Washington regarding domestic violence. The Revised Code of Washington chapter 7.105 brings new changes to the legal definition of domestic violence (DV) and simplifies the process for getting a DV protection order. This New Expanded Legal…
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PURCHASE CUSTOM JEWELRY MADE BY WOMEN SERVED AT YWCA SPOKANE Pieces will be sold in the YWCA Spokane Lobby May 5th & 6th Stop by YWCA Spokane, 930 N Monroe St, Spokane, WA 99201 on May 5th or 6th between 8am – 5pm to find the perfect Mother’s Day gift…
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YWCA Spokane’s Emergency Safe Shelter Has Been at Capacity Nearly All of 2021 Rather than turn survivors away when the shelter is full, YWCA advocates rely on hotel availability to fulfill our commitment to finding safe locations where survivors can escape dangerous abuse situations. This is an expensive and imperfect…
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