By Heather Graves
Correspondent
GREEN BAY – No one should ever have to live in fear.
It’s this statement which drives the work of Golden House, Green Bay’s only domestic violence shelter, and its newly appointed executive director, Cheeia Lo.
Losing her aunt and uncle to domestic violence, Lo knows the importance behind bringing awareness to this struggle.
“We never knew,” she said. “There is that belief out there that if someone is educated, or comes from a well-to-do family, it can’t happen to them. We need to continue to work to eliminate the stigma.”
Her personal experience, combined with her 11 years in the field, fuels her passion for promoting the safety and resiliency of survivors.
“When someone comes in, it doesn’t matter what your background is, your ethnicity, your income, or your social status, we will provide help and support to you,” she said. “As humans, we are resilient. We are strong, and there is hope.”
Golden House has helped those seeking safety for more than 40 years.
What started as a 24-hour telephone helpline in 1979, to assist victims of domestic abuse find a safe place to stay, has evolved into a comprehensive program which serves, helps and protects victims of domestic violence and their families throughout the Greater Green Bay area.
“My biggest hope for Golden House is to continue the great work that we are doing in the community and to continue to live our mission of providing safety and support for victims of domestic abuse,” Lo said.
She said its domestic violence shelter is a quarter of what Golden House does.
The remaining 75 percent of clients are served on an outreach basis.
“Each year, we continue to see a rise in the number of victims/survivors seeking services,” Lo said. “Last year we served over 1,400 clients on an outreach basis, over 450 in the shelter and took over 5,385 hotline calls.”
It’s Lo’s plan to continue to expand services.
One of these services is the Safe Home program, which provides financial assistance to help move families toward increased safety, stability, self-sufficiency and empowerment.
“Funds from this program have helped survivors with rent assistance, utility assistance, child care, car repairs, work clothes, ESL or GED classes,” she said. “The funds help with any barriers that they might need to succeed.”
Other support offered at Golden House includes mental health therapists, advocates who help with restraining orders and safety planning as well as a legal advocate.
“We have a prevention coordinator who works with young adults across the county to prevent dating violence and learn healthy relationship skills,” Lo said.
Golden House has two children and youth advocates who work directly with the families.
“There are both external and internal effects on children as a result of exposure to domestic violence, and the children and youth advocates work directly with those families to provide support,” she said.
Lo said all services at Golden House are free and confidential.
Advocates at Golden House have unfortunately seen the need in the community grow because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With our Safe Home program, we have spent over $30,000 already to keep people safe…” Lo said. “COVID-19 has made it more challenging for our clients to find housing and jobs as well, both are barriers that were great concerns prior to the pandemic, but now it is even worse.”
Since the pandemic began, Lo said Golden House has served more than 921 clients on an outreach basis and over 284 in shelter.
Though the increase in volume is concerning, Lo said the severity of the abuse is equally alarming.
“We have seen an increase of not only people coming in with physical abuse, but also with sexual abuse and financial abuse,” she said. “Our average length of stay in shelter used to be 22 days, and now it is around 40 days.”
To adhere to recommendations in regards to COVID-19 the shelter had to change how it does things, which includes decreasing the amount of clients it can host at any given time.
The 14,000-square-foot building has 11 bedrooms, however, because kitchens, living areas and bathrooms are communal spaces, staff had to decrease capacity to six families.
Staff is taking all necessary precautions, including requiring everyone to wear a mask while on property, installing hand sanitizing stations and social distancing as much as possible.
Lo said the shelter had a positive COVID case early on, but because of precautions and a working relationship with the NEW Community Clinic, it was able to keep it contained.
Another major obstacle for Golden House because of the pandemic is a loss in fundraising revenue, Lo said.
Golden House is supported by two sources – grants and fundraising.
It had to cancel or significantly alter its annual fundraising events and in turn raised less, she said.
“The pandemic has had a huge impact on our funding,” Lo said. “Our annual BBQ Fest event held each summer usually brings in about $90,000-$100,000. However, this year, after having to move the event virtually, only brought in about $26,000.”
Golden House will continue to look to the community for support.
The first step, Lo said, is awareness.
Since 1981, domestic violence awareness has been highlighted nationally during October.
“It was started as a way to unite advocates across the nation battling this epidemic,” Lo said.
She said oftentimes people associate domestic violence with just physical abuse, but said it also includes emotional, verbal, threatening and financial abuse.
“Domestic violence is about power and control,” she said.
Golden House champions a number of events and programs each year to raise awareness.
For the second year, Golden House will host the Women of Strength Awards, which highlights achievements and contributions made by local inspiring women.
“The awards are a time to lift up and celebrate women that exemplify great strength and resiliency in our community,” Lo said.
This year’s event will be held virtually Oct. 29.
More information on the awards or on the Golden House can be found online at goldenhousegb.org.