I have been a victim of domestic violence and abuse for years. I've been into this office numerous times in tears begging for help. Not sure what they actually do there as no one seems to know anything and the only thing they can actually do is write on the piece of paper to fill out a restraining or stalking order. Beyond that, I have never been assisted in any way. Not sure where domestic violence/abuse survivors are actually supposed to be able to go to get help, but this is not the place. So confused by where their funding is coming from and where it's going. There's no help to be had here in my experience.

I was referred to this organization during a dangerous and terrifying moment when I had nowhere safe to go. To my shock, the person who answered the phone was a rude and dismissive MAN who clearly had no understanding of what women go through, let alone victims of domestic violence. Instead of offering compassion, resources, or even referrals, I was told that my situation “didn’t sound like an emergency they could help with” and then brushed off with “we’re closed for the weekend, try again another time.” At a time when I was in crisis, scared for my safety, and hoping for guidance, I was met with indifference and attitude. No survivor should be made to feel like they’re being judged, dismissed, or turned away when reaching out for help. This organization seems to pick and choose who they assist, disregarding those who don’t fit their narrow definition of “acceptable” cases. Domestic violence resources should never operate this way. Survivors deserve compassion, consistency, and safety — not gatekeeping and power trips.

My experience with this shelter and DVRC started with hope, but ended in deep disappointment and emotional harm. I was a survivor of abuse, fleeing a violent and dangerous situation with my child and pets. When I first arrived, I was relieved — I thought we’d found a safe place. But that safety was quickly overshadowed by judgment, gaslighting, and inconsistent support from staff. At one point I was told that I probably wasn't a victim BY the director. I confided in a staff member named Kathleen, thinking I could trust her. I shared deeply personal and traumatic information — things I hadn’t told anyone else — and she turned around and used those conversations against me. Without warning, she contacted the shelter director, Amy, who from the beginning had shown no warmth or empathy. Amy spoke to me with a cold, clinical tone and treated me more like a liability than a human being in crisis. There was no compassion, no effort to understand my situation, and no transparency in how decisions were made. Despite expressing clear boundaries — especially around my discomfort with law enforcement — Amy repeatedly implied that police involvement might be necessary, which left me feeling threatened and retraumatized. I was told I was being removed from the shelter for “safety concerns.” They gave reasons — but they weren’t rooted in truth or fairness. No one ever asked for my side, and there was no compassion for the trauma we had survived. I was removed from the shelter and placed in a hotel with no notice and no solid plan beyond that. I felt discarded by the very people who were supposed to help survivors like me find safety and stability. What hurts the most is that being in that shelter was the first time in a long while I had felt even a glimpse of safety. But instead of support, I was met with suspicion and judgment — not just from Kathleen, but especially from Amy, who used her authority to dismiss me rather than uplift me. If you're a survivor seeking support, please proceed with caution. Not all shelters operate with trauma-informed care, and sadly, not all staff are trustworthy or trained to handle complex trauma respectfully. I’m sharing this because I don’t want anyone else to feel as isolated, scared, or betrayed as I did. Survivors deserve support that heals — not harm disguised as help.