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player ready...For a victim of domestic violence, the prospect of leaving their abuser includes the cold reality of moving out of their home and establishing a new life.
Keshia Ellis, the new director of Community Services at Crisis Center for South Suburbia, is working alongside her colleagues to assist women and families suffering domestic violence to find immediate and long term shelter.
“When you’re facing the fact that you could be homeless, that could be a deterrent to leaving your abuser,” Ellis said. “We’re trying to give clients the agency to say, ‘That’s not what’s going to hold me here.'”
Ellis earned her master’s degree in public administration from Governors State University. She is also a doctoral candidate in the nonprofit leadership program at GSU.
The organization Safe Housing Partnerships says domestic violence is a “leading cause of homelessness for women and children.”
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, homeless services providers in the United States set aside more than 48,000 beds for survivors of domestic violence on a single night in 2019.
The Crisis Center houses families fleeing domestic violence at its permanent shelter, in addition to 50 apartments around the South Suburbs. Its emergency services include hotel stays, temporary rent subsidies, transportation vouchers and more.
Often, women who have suffered partner violence have been isolated and deceived, their power taken away. Ellis said this abuse leaves them lacking the knowledge and confidence required to manage a household budget. In addition to housing, Crisis Center also provides services that help survivors learn how to manage bills, pay rent on time, communicate with a landlord and more.
“Leaving the situation is only the beginning,” Ellis said. “Our case managers are very intensive around being able to budget accordingly, live on your own, manage day-to-day housekeeping skills, and gain employment and independence.”
Other victims of domestic violence who are already employed and don’t need such intensive skill building may be helped by Crisis Center’s Rapid Rehousing team, which seeks to get them resettled as quickly as possible.
Part of finding safe housing for a victim of domestic violence includes determining what location is most appropriate — considering the distance from their workplace, child’s school and family members’ houses, and also what will ensure the most safety, Ellis said.
“Of course we want to make sure the housing does not put them back in a place of uncertainty, or being scared to be back in contact with their abuser,” she said. “They deserve to live their life free of violence and fear of their abuser.”
The rapidly increasing cost of rent presents a major obstacle for women fleeing domestic violence, Ellis said, and many have low credit scores after years of financial controlling partners who abused their credit.
In addition to providing families with rent subsidies, Crisis Center works as a liaison between them and their landlords to develop trust, Ellis said. She wants to expand partnerships with landlords and management companies to give Crisis Center the opportunity to house more women and families.
They sometimes battle landlords’ preconceived notions about tenants receiving subsidies. The Crisis Center program is not related to well known Section 8 government subsidies.
Ellis said Crisis Center case managers explain to landlords how the program helps clients learn how to be responsible tenants. That, plus guaranteed rent from the subsidy, makes some landlords enthusiastic about having Crisis Center clients as tenants, Ellis said.
“I think there’s a misconception about any client who’s receiving a subsidy, if they’re not able to hold a lease themselves or financially maintain it,” Ellis said. “Within the housing program, we’re working to educate our landlords about what we have to offer. Work with us and give our clients a second chance, that push in the right direction.”
Last year, the Crisis Center helped 2,000 people in the South Suburbs with its housing programs in addition to counseling and other services, she said.
The nonprofit organization is expanding its permanent shelter, converting office space into more bedrooms, Ellis said. When complete, the shelter will accommodate 20 households with 54 beds.
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“It’s going to be an amazing thing,” Ellis said. “Housing gives domestic violence survivors shelter, a chance at self sufficiency, and a free life.”
If you’re in an abusive relationship and want to reach out for help, call the Crisis Center’s hotline at 708-429-SAFE (7233).
Carole Sharwarko is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.