The terror and uncertainty that domestic violence victims experience cannot be compared to other crimes. For one, the abuse comes at the hands of someone who was once a trusted loved one, not an unknown assailant, and the abuse is often countered with a period of calm and normalcy. Harbor House is an emergency domestic violence shelter in a confidential location where OhioGuidestone can provide refuge and healing for abuse victims, their children, and their pets.
Our Domestic Violence Emergency Hotline number if you need help is We understand the multi-faceted risks and complications in domestic abuse situations. We know that it sometimes takes Herculean strength and bravery to escape an abuser and start over.
We also know leaving with children and pets is especially difficult, and that the very act of leaving can be extremely dangerous. Leaving an abuser is the most dangerous time for a victim of domestic violence. Interviews with men who have killed their wives reveal that either threats of separation by their partner or actual separations were most often the precipitating events that lead to the murder. By providing a safe comfortable place for victims to find shelter from an abuser, OhioGuidestone professionals can remove many of the barriers that keep victims in abusive living situations.
In addition to accommodations for children and pets, OhioGuidestone can address other underlying issues that keep victims in abusive homes. The victim in violent relationships knows their abuser best and fully knows the extent to which they will go to make sure they have and can maintain control over the victim. The victim may not be able to safely escape or protect those they love or those who try to help.
At Harbor House, the length of stay for those seeking emergency shelter can vary based on individual needs but it typically takes 90 days to move on to a path of independent, safe housing.
