by HAVEN (Household Abuse Victims Emergency Network)
Every person who HAVEN serves has their own story. Although their life experiences all include interpersonal abuse and violence, each adult and child is an individual on their own journey. For example, when a family is affected by abuse, the impacts on each person, their reactions, and their healing process, are all varied. For some of our clients, domestic violence has been intergenerational, and compounded by other adversities and barriers of life.
When HAVEN shares information about the number of clients for whom we advocate, we ask that you be very aware that each number represents a unique individual, a whole person, a valuable human being with their own identity, experiences, strengths, capacities, and potential.
In 2019, HAVEN served 296 people including 207 women, 11 men, and 78 children. Of those, 86 people stayed in the shelter for at least one night, with the other 210 being community clients. Over the course of the year, HAVEN provided 2,920 nights of shelter, which is the number of people multiplied by the number of nights they spent here. That is an average stay of 34 days.
Geographically, 68% of our 2019 clients were from Lincoln County, 20% were from adjoining counties, 10% were from other Wisconsin counties, and 2% were from outside the state.
To ensure confidentiality, the demographic and statistical information that HAVEN is required to provide to our grantors is reported anonymously. The grantors divide interpersonal violence into three main categories: domestic violence, sexual assault, and dual victimization, which includes individuals who have been impacted by both domestic violence and sexual assault during their lifetimes. Again, we respectfully remember that the categorical labels and numbers represent the real experiences of human beings. In 2019, HAVEN served 87 people for domestic violence, 32 individuals for sexual assault, and 177 clients for both domestic violence and sexual assault. The number of people with dual victimizations has been increasing over the past five years. In 2015, it comprised 33% of our clients. By 2019, the number of individuals was 60% of those for whom we advocated.
Yet even one person is too many…for free and confidential information and help, call HAVEN 715-536-1300 to speak with an advocate 24/7.