Instead, you’re in a meeting room at EVE’s house.
EVE — or End Violent Encounters — provides shelter and supportive services to the victims of domestic violence. Their offices are housed, literally, in a nondescript house on a nondescript street.
That’s the point.
Women escaping abusive situations can come to a confidential environment where they can feel safe and they can get help.
“That’s the first question we ask a caller to the crisis line: Are you safe?” said Susan Shoultz, EVE’s executive director.
“If they aren’t, we tell them to go to a safe place and get a ride here if they can. If they can’t, we’ll send a cab.”
EVE’s crisis line is the entry point for most people — mostly women — who are seeking to leave a violent situation. A $2,540 grant in 2009 from the Capital Region Community Foundation goes to staffing for the 24/7 help line.
“Every nickel counts in that program,” Shoultz said. “You have to be able to speak to a live person who can help determine what happens next. All of the initial work is done right at the crisis line.
“Without those grant dollars, how could people get to us? That’s so crucial.”
Once they’re brought to the shelter, clients are given temporary safe housing, meals and personal-care items.
But more than that, they’re given access to counseling — for themselves and their children, if there are any — as well as assistance filing a personal protection order, contact with Ingham County’s domestic violence support unit and more.
A little history
Founded in 1977, the Council Against Domestic Assault (CADA) began with a group of concerned community members who wanted to help support their family, friends and neighbors.
“Back then there was no shelter, just a number to call,” Shoultz said.
“Volunteers took women into their own homes.”
A year later, CADA grew to include Lansing’s first domestic violence shelter and began to offer supportive services for survivors and their children.
In recent years, CADA changed its name to End Violent Encounters to reflect EVE’s comprehensive services to survivors.
“More than 30 years later, we haven’t cured the problem yet,” Shoultz said.
The role of men
Despite what many people think about a domestic violence shelter, EVE is not a “women only” program.
“We have male volunteers who answer the crisis line, handymen who work on the house,” said Izabela Wackowski-Norris, EVE’s advocacy and client support supervisor. “You’d be surprised how women open up to them.”
Wackowski-Norris said it’s important to integrate men for several reasons.
“It shows them all men are not bad people,” she said. “We want the women to feel comfortable around men.”
Wackowski-Norris said it’s important, too, for the young boys who come to the shelter with their mothers.
“They need to see positive male role models. It gives them an outlet to talk about their dad and see that it’s still OK to love their dad.”
For the staff at EVE, the job is all about attitude and commitment.
“It’s not about money — we don’t have any of that — so we get creative and figure out the best way to help these people,” Shoultz said. “Every day is a challenge, but we’re all here because we love what we do.”
EVE Inc.
• Crisis line: (517) 372-5572
• Business line: (517) 372-5976
• Online: www.eveinc.org
WHAT THEY DO:
EVE (End Violent Encounters) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter and supportive services to victims of domestic violence. EVE’s services are free, client-centered, confidential and designed to empower survivors. EVE uses a non-judgmental, supportive and strengths-based approach. Services are client-focused to help victims of abuse regain power and control over their lives. EVE services are dependent upon the generous help of volunteers, donations and the support of area businesses and organizations.
EVE’s Crisis Line provides crisis intervention, support and referrals to survivors of domestic violence. The 24-Hour Crisis Line is staffed by individuals trained to provide support, information and referrals.
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