Local shelter marks DV awareness month

SHAWANO — The Safe Haven Domestic Abuse Shelter in Shawano is on track to having its busiest year in 2019 since the shelter started 18 years ago.

“Each year our numbers seem to be going up,” Executive Director Stacey Cicero said.

Safe Haven is a 24-hour domestic abuse shelter at 380 N. Lakeland Road, Shawano.

In 2018, Safe Haven provided emergency shelter for 76 women, one man and 80 children and provided support services to 538 victims of domestic violence.

In the first half of this year, the shelter provided safe housing for 45 women, two men and 53 children.

“If we continue on that vein, our numbers will be up quite a bit,” Cicero said.

The shelter is in the midst of marking National Domestic Violence Awareness Month with its annual candlelight vigil held Thursday night, purple ribbons visible out and about the community, and a new event.

Safe Haven will host a Ball of the Badges Oct. 19 at the North Star Casino to honor and recognize all first responders in the community.

Proceeds from the event, which is already sold out, will go to Safe Haven.

“It’s important to have awareness events so people understand that domestic violence isn’t OK and that there is help out there,” Cicero said. “It’s important that people can find help so they can leave the situation.”

Cicero said the national and local awareness campaigns play a role in that.

“The more awareness you can bring, the more people don’t see it as a crime that needs to be hidden, and can reach out and get the help that they need,” she said.

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month first began in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a Day of Unity to connect battered women’s advocates across the country.

According to national statistics, every nine seconds, a person in the United States is beaten by their intimate partner. One in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime and one in seven men.

“We rely on community support, and we’re very thankful for the support the community does provide to us,” Cicero said.

She added that the shelter is always in need of volunteers and donations.