Total pages in book: 187
Estimated words: 174623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
I'm not surprised to see it locked. With trauma comes the need to try to be prepared at all times in fear that they may not have what they need when they need it, and more often than not, that includes scarcity hoarding and resource guarding.
Victoria opens the closet, revealing rows and rows of personal hygiene items, clothing, and other daily necessities.
"The women know to come to staff if they need anything, but this is more overflow for those coming in with nothing. We place an online order twice a week for anything specific they want or need. They'll come to you to let you know if they need something. Just add it to the log. There's a shopping list section in the app."
"Got it," I tell her, loving how efficient this place seems to be.
"There are eight bedrooms in this hall. As I said, only four are currently filled. We don't enter a resident's private area unless invited. They all have keys to their own rooms. You have a master key on your keyring. Our new resident will go in the orange circle room," she says, pointing to a room with an open door.
The orange circle she mentioned is on the wall at eye level, beside the door.
"The rooms are all designated with a color and a shape. We figured that putting the names outside the rooms would make them feel uncomfortable. Have a look," she says, waving her arm toward the open door.
I step inside. The room is massive, bigger than the one in my apartment.
"We set up the rooms in advance to accommodate their needs," she says, pointing to a twin-size bed across the room from the queen on the far wall. "Kayla has a daughter."
"So we'll have three children in residence then?"
"Not immediately. Kayla's daughter was placed in temporary foster care, but we hope to reunite them soon. Dana has two smaller beds to accommodate her children."
"What are the age restrictions on children in this home?"
"Sometimes we take survivors who are under eighteen, but that process is handled through collaboration with other agencies in town. As far as children of survivors, we have a separate home for women with older male children."
"Older?" I ask.
Victoria nods. "Any resident with a male child fourteen or older goes to our sister location."
"Makes sense," I say, giving the room one last look before following Victoria out.
Victimization can happen at any age. Some are abused children in the same situation as their mother. Some are teen abuse survivors. Making accommodations for women with male teen children, rather than putting them in a home where a younger abuse survivor might be uncomfortable with them, is an incredible extra step to ensure everyone's needs are met.
"How many facilities does the organization run?"
"Anchor House has three in Farmington. A men's house, Ponderosa, this house, Juniper, and the house with women and older male children, Cottonwood."
"That's incredible," I say with genuine appreciation in my tone.
"Wish we didn't have to have so many places. Abuse should be abnormal, but it seems like a growing issue these days."
"I know," I agree.
"Ponderosa is currently empty. Cottonwood only has one family right now, and they're about to move to independent living," she explains.
"Crazy how the census is low when abuse is so prevalent," I mutter as we make our way back down the stairs.
"Reporting is the issue," Victoria says. "The abuse is happening all over all the time, but people are so scared to report their abusive partners. As you know, they've been conditioned and threatened. The admissions come in waves. It will probably pick up for us since the kids are home from school. They have no escape and more opportunities. Abuse escalates during trying times, and the kids at home, eating more, puts more financial strain on families. Being around more triggers a lot of irritation in abusers."
"And help from the community to ease some of that strain is looked at like a handout, and a lot of abusers are too prideful to ask for or receive help," I add.
"Exactly," she says. "We also worry that some think the house isn't safe. We had to move to a different house a while back, and things just haven't bounced back in admissions as quickly as we would like. The fundraiser in a few weeks might help with that, though."
I don't ask about what triggered the move or what could've happened to make people question the house's safety, but I know it will probably come up in conversation at a later date.
"I've only met Traci. The others?"
"Dana and her kiddos are newer," Victoria says as she steps inside the office. "They come out for meals and might spend a little time each day in the backyard or living room, but they're still getting used to being here."
"Understandable," I say, sitting in my office chair as she closes the office door.