For women who are suffering domestic abuse, have determined that they should do more than seek a Protection From Abuse order (PFA), and can’t afford an apartment on their own, there are multiple resources in the Central PA region.

One such resource is the Greater Harrisburg YWCA, which maintains a shelter at an undisclosed location. This facility is bright and clean, with the look of a well-kept college dormitory. It is designed to accommodate women with children. The furniture is sturdy and functional and the surroundings pleasant. The housing area is secure and staff is available at all hours, every day, to assist victims and help the residents. Staff includes employees from diverse cultures, fluent in Spanish and Vietnamese as well as English.

Women can refer themselves, although often police or hospital workers do the referral, according to Robin Shearer, Crisis Team Leader.

Inside the shelter, victims are safe from physical abuse, but they face new challenges. Within thirty days, they must find a new place to live and a way to support themselves. They may have to go to court for child and/or spousal support, or get a job. Some have arrived from out of town.

For many women, fleeing an abuser means going on welfare, and women who are used to being self-supporting may have to confront their prejudices about welfare recipients. Women accustomed to living in suburban single family homes will need to learn to get along in close quarters with others of many different cultures and economic backgrounds.

Shearer says that, although initially some women are upset with the idea of being in a shelter, most women manage to bridge the differences and to support and encourage each other.

Part of the work women in shelters must do is to decide if they are going to leave for good. Counseling and support groups are part of the new routine. Counselors can help with court appearances, and can also arrange for visitation with children for the non-custodial parent.

Shearer notes, "This is one of the most dangerous times for a woman who has fled an abuser." Therefore, the YWCA works to make sure that the exchange or visit can be arranged without any contact. The shelter tries to provide everything that women need to stay and to move on to a safer and healthier lifestyle.

Sometimes the abuser apologizes, and contrition combined with the overwhelming change in lifestyle a woman in a shelter has just experienced persuades the woman to give him another chance. In this case, the woman and her children are counseled on how to stay safe.

Shearer estimates that while an abuser may repent and stop initially, 99.9 percent of the time, he’ll become abusive again. "We sometimes see a woman six or eight times before she finally leaves," she said.

For services for victims of domestic violence or sexual assault, or for violence prevention education, contact the YWCA at 800-654-1211 or 717-238-7273. Services are not gender-specific; they are confidential and free for victims and non-offending family members. For a list of other resources, contact the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) at 717-545-6400 or Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties at 800-852-2102 or 717-258-4249.