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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 9, 1998)
ie Battalion Aggielife Page 3 • Monday, November 9, 1998 11 game, lay we are hoii s:one was all :er and theothe :he Corps ofCj CPR on a maj igthegam^'i also honoring ambulances w: ;entlemanwho rest.” necessary. | at 694-9101 information. Roadrunners: ; | for a 34 mile .m. in frontofO: ite. All skills ike at 847-533:1 aformation. lie Student i-Aggie There n study, fun, andl o at 8:30 p.nt I r Tower. Loor | ledule screen! umber. indin uqe hoebe’s Home offers housing, ounseling to victims of domestic abuse BY TRAVIS IRBY The Battalion ictims of domestic violence often have no place to go. They might report the abuse, but then they face the dilemma of going back to a harmful environment. It is expensive to start a new life, but to stop the vi- felence, it is a necessary step. \&M Men’s RuI Ph° e b e ’ s Home offers survivors of abuse a chance ’racticewilllrr t> e 8 in anew, without the threat of harm hanging in the field be P ve r !' u th 5!. r „ exi T s T t 5^ c 5-, hry parking loti at 969-0789 formation. re for Stud' meet at 8: Faith's Clt ion room. 's Bonfire The last oe to discuss. push and g week’s erf p.m. in 507RJ lontact Lisa 79 or Cfiris )2 Tor details. iWE): There Phoebe’s Home is a non-profit organization de- to offer housing and counseling to victims of omestic violence and their children. Within its doors, volunteers and staff help to ease he burden of its residents. Phoebe’s Home is open [even days a week, 24 hours a day, including Christ as and New Year’s Day. Trisha Einkauf, Phoebe’s Home program director, laid wherever the victims of abuse may come from, hey receive the help they need. “We have equality for all clients,” Einkauf said. They come from all walks of life. Domestic violence doesn’t know any boundaries.” Einkauf said the variety of people who seek help s surprising. “We have clients with abused children, to college tudents, to 68-year-old ladies with black eyes,” linkauf said. She said abuse is much more prevalent than the mblic thinks. ' “A 1°* P eo Pl e don’t perceive how dangerous it is,” inkauf said, “that these abusers are out of control.’ 202 EngifS ics Building , JllIXxClUl ‘-’ClIVlj 1X1 Cl L CX O V_ X O C I 1 v_ l_X L V/1 1.11 vy 1 • eeting at ■ decision to seek refuge in Phoebe’s Home is of- en made at the tail end of a tumultuous series of events. The journey begins with the Bryan Police Depart ment. If someone calls Phoebe’s Home looking for # lelp, they are directed to the Bryan Police Department. The police will also refer those involved in domes tic violence disputes to Phoebe’s Home. Clients are not required to press charges against the abusers to stay at the home, but Einkauf said the staff encourages victims to file charges, because it provides lasting evidence of abuse. “Without the paper trail (of charges filed), the ju dicial system cannot work,” she said. Once someone enters the home, they go through a 24-hour time-out period. During this period, the new resident takes time to adjust to the new surroundings. Residents live in modest dormitory-style rooms and share a large kitchen. After the 24-hour period, residents at Phoebe’s Home are expected to contribute to the home along with the people living at the shelter. There can be as many as 50 people living within its walls. Einkauf said the work is evenly distributed. “Everyone does their fair share,” she said. Within the first 72 hours of their stay, residents see a counselor to develop a service plan. Each plan is based on the individual’s needs. If clients have chil dren, they are also interviewed to determine if coun seling is needed. The clients need to come up with a set of goals. These goals are designed to help them start a new ex istence free of abuse. The maximum stay at the home is 30 days, but one’s stay can be extended if they show progress in accomplishing their goals. Einkauf said the goals are an important part of the healing process. “The goals can be anything from just wanting to feel good about themselves to finding a new home,” she said. Rosa Sandies, a licensed social worker at Phoebe’s Home, said she helps with financial is sues, such as finding new housing and dealing with enlighten • entertain • inspire •S/TY , Managing Edi on, Opinion Ed ports Editor is, City Editor y, Radio Proditf Night News Ed n, Web editor nisha Parekh, Ami ly Grant Jody B«rb lores & Terry i Patton, Jody Rae ert Strickland S Publications, a unidli Fax- 845-2641; and national dispSys-'- hours are 8 amtoil 1 alion. First copy fa, immer. To charge by®* iday through Ihrt® College Station,IWF >n,TX 77843-1111. lory Before Garth. Before Reba. Before Shania. There was Patsy. Mufay rUne Patsy Cltn b & s e- d ° n Patsy Cline had only five years to become a legend. Fortunately, she made the most of her time. November 10 & 11 at 8 PM Rudder Auditorium For tickets, call 845-1234. Official Radio Sponsor ^ - ; kV^ Back In Baby’s Arms • I Fall to Pieces • lovesick Blues • San antonio Rose • Crazy BRANDON BOLLOM/The Battalion Toys and books for children who are victims of domestic abuse are kept in one of the offices at Phoebe’s Home. Phoebe’s Home houses women and children who suffer from domestic violence. living expenses. “I’m the middleman for the clients and financial as sistance,” Sandies said. “They tell me where they want to go and list the things that are their priorities.” For up to two years, clients can receive rental as sistance. As much as 70 percent of the rent can be cov ered with rental assistance. Sandies makes referrals to food banks and helps clients’ children enroll in school. Even after a stay at Phoebe’s Home, all might not be well. Einkauf estimates many of the abused return to the situation seven to ten times before leaving permanently. Shelter manager Sandra McK- ever said the abuser sometimes becomes more vi olent when their victim leaves. “We’ve had three ladies killed by their husbands,” McKever said. “One had been to the shelter seven times, and a week after her seventh visit, she was mur dered by her husband.” McKever said in their own minds, the victims have legitimate reasons for returning to the abuser. “Some go back because they feel dependent or for the sake of their children,” she said. Even though some people fall back into bad sit uations, many are helped by the assistance of Phoebe’s Home. Sandies said she remembered a woman who had suffered a lifetime of abuse. “She was 60 years old and had been abused her whole life and through three marriages,” Sandies said. “Her van had broken down, and she had no hope of going anywhere with her medical and transporta tion problems. But we helped get the help to improve her situation.” Phoebe’s Home offers a variety of ways to change a victim’s life, but the cost of such help is great, and with out the community’s support, it would not be possible. Einkauf said the staff spends time securing funds for the home and donations help ease the burden. “We feed and house each client and their children,” she said. “So donated items and money help fund the general operations of the home.” While the donations are important to the well being of Phoebe’s Home, the dedication of the staff is essential. On holidays, weekends and late nights, one of fice manager handles the running of the house and its residents. Einkauf said some staffers have a personal reason for helping. “Many of the staff have been personally affected by domestic violence,” she said. She said in the end, Phoebe’s Home staff is dedi cated to helping others. “The staff doesn’t make a lot of mopey, and it is a high-stress job,” Einkauf said. “They are loyal to the cause of stopping violence in the community.” (JrtliMifzd ^ iec ^ Check 9 * C ^ rd / / _ .. /| lOrthdn / flYSf- SO Check<. J CJneck y/ rhinufc Phene. CCf- Prtf Free For The Checkingi With our Unbelievable Free Checking, there are absolutely no monthly service charges. No withdrawal fees at over 200 Texas Norwest Instant Cash® ATMs. No minimum balance requirements. Need any more good reasons to see Norwest? Open an account by November 30, 1998 and we’ll even throw in a handy phone card with 15 minutes free long distance. Add up the advantages and figure it out.Then choose the checking that makes the most of your money. Because when we say free, we mean what we say. 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