Advancing Healing and Safety
Domestic Violence & Emergency Housing
There IS hope for a life without abuse and violence.
Can you imagine what that might look like?
Let YWCA Evansville help you get there.
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is the use of power and control within an intimate relationship that threatens a person’s well-being. The abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, and financial.
It can happen to anyone of any race, age, sex, sexual orientation, or religion. It can happen to couples who are married, living together, or dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.
It can happen to friends, family, or co-workers.
It can happen to you.
But, you are not alone. YWCA Evansville is here to help. Whether you need immediate shelter or help in accessing services, like housing, protective orders, etc., we are here to help you.
In 1979, YWCA Evansville opened the area’s first domestic violence shelter. Over the past 45 years, we have provided services on a 24-hour/365-days basis. Many of our survivors find themselves homeless, unemployed, facing extreme poverty, and without a support system. Therefore, our family advocates offer counseling, case management, legal advocacy and education in addition to basic necessities like food, clothing and personal care items to support survivors as they work to rebuild their lives. Our child advocate provides play therapy, tutoring, school advocacy, assessments and referrals. If there is room in the shelter, we also provide emergency housing and services to women who are homeless due to reasons other than domestic violence and we operate a 24-hour crisis hotline.
Funding for this program is provided by ESG funds through the City of Evansville and the Department of Metropolitan Development as well as the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and generous donors.
Weekly “Choices” classes are offered in collaboration with Albion Fellows Bacon Center at the YWCA for survivors of domestic violence. This class is open to survivors who are not living in our shelter as well as those who are YWCA shelter residents. Classes help participants evaluate their relationships to understand the cycle of abuse and learn how to make good decisions to build healthy relationships going forward. One-on-one victim advocacy and case management is also available if needed.
Clients also attend our weekly “Healthy Relationships” interactive course where they gain knowledge of what green flags to look for when determining if a relationship is healthy or unhealthy. Participants learn to set healthy boundaries within all of their interpersonal relationships and ultimately complete the course feeling empowered to take control of their choices, bodies and lives. In addition, a weekly “Women and Mothers” group offers a flexible curriculum that focuses on the needs of its current participants.
Many of our survivors have a history of addiction and they choose to participate in our recovery services. YWCA partners with Counseling for Change to offer dual assessment and group meetings three days per week.
For information about YWCA’s class offerings, please call (812) 422-1191.
Groups and Classes
Domestic Violence Awareness Month & Chalk It Up to Awareness Campaign
Each October, YWCA Evansville joins the national movement to bring attention to the problem of domestic violence through awareness campaigns and events. Local businesses, individuals, schools and organizations participate in our annual community-wide Chalk It Up to Awareness campaign using anti-violence slogans, statistics, and sidewalk chalk to help us raise awareness about domestic violence through beautiful artwork. We hold a special event each year in partnership with the Mayor, law enforcement, and fellow victim service providers to declare October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the City of Evansville. To honor those who sought safety within our facility, YWCA Evansville also places purple flags along the perimeter of our facility during the month of October.
