Domestic violence shelter proposed in Dexter

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Two women plan to establish a not-for-profit organization to start a domestic-violence shelter in Dexter, Missouri.

Jennifer Land and Sharon Darby are the driving force behind The Next Step, a shelter that will allow up to 20 families in a domestic violence situation to live in their own apartments. At a Stoddard County Commission meeting earlier this week, the women outlined a 12-month program for integrating these families back into productive environments.

Land said there are no such facilities in Stoddard County. She said the nearest shelters are the DAEOC/Brave House in Malden, Missouri, and Haven House in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. She said Brave House serves 64 to 80 people annually who complete the program. Haven House has 31 beds available to families who stay six months to a year.

"We need a safe place for families right here," Land said. "A place with resources, support and community involvement."

Land told the commission one in four women and one in 10 men have experienced domestic violence. She said there were 41,494 domestic violence incidents in 2012 in Missouri.

The Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence reports 18,907 adults and youths were turned away in 2012 because of a lack of enough shelter space. She said the number grew to 23,648 in 2014, a 20 percent increase.

Land said she and Darby are working with an attorney to finalize The Next Step as a not-for-profit corporation. She said they have begun helping families of domestic violence find a place to live and provide food, clothing and household items. She said she and Darby have found rental houses for some families.

Land told the commission they have found a building, the old Villa Apartments, that would allow housing for up to 20 families.

She said the building needs work, but they hoped volunteers and grants would help establish the shelter.

The apartments, when completed, would furnish basic living requirements, and the organization would assist those there to obtain public assistance. She said day-care assistance also would be available and transportation to and from work. She said The Next Step would assist residents in finding jobs.

"We believe it takes time for things to change and families are no different," Land said. "In order for a domestic-violence program to be successful, families need time to heal, grow, build confidence, learn new skills, find jobs, build healthy friendships and relationships with others, become educated on the cycle of abuse and the warning signs of domestic violence."

Pertinent address:

Dexter, Mo.