So the Hospitality House for Women is asking Rome residents to walk.
Only a very special event could get Rome Police Chief Hubert Smith, Emergency Management Director Scotty Hancock former Mayor Ronnie Wallace out on Broad Street in high heels.
These men, and many other Rome residents, will participate in “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” an event to bring awareness to domestic violence in Floyd County.
The event is sponsored by the The Rome/Floyd County Domestic Violence Taskforce as well as a very important organization, the Hospitality House for Women.
For 30 years the organization has provided shelter and services to adult and child victims of family violence in order to assist families in achieving a non-violent lifestyle.
As part of its mission, the Hospitality House tries to provide quality services to both English and non-English speaking families by incorporating all available partnerships and collaborations. It also assists victims in navigating the Floyd County court system.
Anne Havron, board chairman for the Hospitality House, said the organization was started locally by a nun, Hannah Fahy, a Rome native.
It started as a small facility able to accommodate five women. With help from the City of Rome as well as local businesses and community members, Hospitality House grew to house 12 women. Its newest facility is licensed to house 27 people.
“We are a licensed state agency,” Havron said. “We’re licensed as a domestic violence shelter and can accommodate 27 people per night.”
Havron said when women are involved in a domestic violence situation, they call the crisis line at 706-235-4673. Hospitality House staff ask questions to determine the nature of the situation and each case is handled individually.
“Sometimes the police will bring someone to us and if we have space they can stay for up to 90 days,” she said. “And because of the dangers of having victims of violence stay at our facility, many of our residents are from outside the Rome community or even the county. Many times we have to take our local victims and house them at outside facilities as well, for their own protection.”
Amy Weaver, executive director of the Hospitality House for Women, a United Way organization, said having been at its current location for about five years, the house is at full capacity.
With beds for women and children, they sometimes get babies as well.
“I think people aren’t aware of the magnitude of the problem,” she said, “not just in our community but nationwide. Many people just don’t know how big of a problem domestic violence is.”
And because of the nature of their work, the Hospitality House is less visible than many other organizations which hampers outreach and fundraising efforts.
Other than clean, safe living facilities, they also offer free support group services for survivors as well as a legal advocate to accompany victims to court.
They also coordinate health and other services to victims and their families.
“And we follow up with people,” she said. “When they leave the shelter they still need a lot of help and we offer that additional support system.”
Going back
One of the most important things Havron and Weaver stressed is that many women who leave domestic violence situations in their homes feel like failures if they have to return to that environment.
“National statistics say that on average at least seven attempts are made before finally leaving that situation for good,” Weaver said. “I don’t want women to think that they’ve failed because they got out and had to go back. We understand that many women are pressured to return to violent situations, either because of finances or because of children. But each time you leave prepares you for the next. It’s a learning process.”
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Though funding is provided through the state department of Human Resources as well as a federal grant through the Victims of Crime Act, the Hospitality House still requires additional funds for the day-to-day care of its facility and its residents.
So community fundraising events are vital to their existence.
One of their most visible events is the upcoming “Walk A Mile in Her Shoes” event.
On Oct. 3 starting at noon, local ministers, city and county officials, educators and business owners will strap themselves into high heels and walk from Rotary Plaza to the City Auditorium.
The walk will be the 105th “Walk a Mile in her Shoes” event scheduled in the US and Canada this year.
All Rome residents are encouraged to participate, with or without heels. Registration is Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. with the walk starting at noon.
All walkers must register to walk but the event is free. T-shirts will be available at $10 each.
“It’s an accessible way for the community to know us and to participate in a way that’s not too difficult,” Weaver said. “We think it’s a lighter way to get a very heavy issue across.”
She said walkers will meet and register at Rotary Plaza, between The Forum and the courthouse, and walk down Broad Street to the Rome City Auditorium where a short ceremony will allow visitors to learn more about the Hospitality House as well as domestic violence in the community.
“This event is for everyone,” Weaver added. “Many of our walkers are men who will be wearing high heels but people can walk in whatever they want. Some men who can’t fit into heels have agreed to have their sneakers painted pink or decorated. It’s really just the participation in the event that matters to us.
“So many people in this community have been affected by domestic violence,” she added. “And so many people feel helpless to do anything about it. Well, this is a way to do something. This is a way to help put an end to it.”
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