Community Corner: Safe Haven In Fremont For Domestic Violence Victims
FREMONT (KCBS) - SAVE, a local organization that works to stop domestic violence, has been helping victims and educating the community for the past 35 years.
They are holding their annual Breakfast Eye Opener in Newark on September 27th to update and educate the community on this ongoing issue of abuse in the Bay Area.
Susan Schiller, Executive Director of SAVE which stands for Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments, hopes the event will help break down some of the stereotypes people may have about the syndrome of domestic violence.
KCBS' Connie C. Kim talks to Susan Schiller, SAVE's Executive Director:
Community Corner: Safe Haven In Fremont For Domestic Violence Victims
"Some of the forms of abuse may go on for a long period of time and may not escalate into as big a violent episode as people might think with domestic violence," Schiller talked about the various forms of abuse, "things that are less obvious than a black eye."
These include "emotional abuse or verbal abuse, name calling, threatening, or putting someone down, attacking the person's spiritual or religious beliefs, financial - controlling all your money, or fear of having your immigration status exposed."
SAVE is located in Fremont but they serve clients from any city, county, state, or country.
They provide shelter, food, education and guidance for victims and their families.
"We have a shelter with 30 beds, we provide counseling, job placement, perhaps some food subsidies," Schiller described some of their services, "until these families can live independently without being exposed in any way to any future violent episodes."
In the past year alone, SAVE has answered nearly 3,000 calls to their 24-hour hotline, completed 111 temporary restraining orders to keep abusers away from the victims, provided shelter for 250 women and children, and assisted 841 domestic violence victims with crisis intervention at local police departments.
Schiller said it's important for the community to be aware of this issue so the upcoming Breakfast Eye Opener happening on September 27th at the Hilton in Newark is the perfect event to learn more about it. Attendees can hear directly from victims themselves about their experiences.
Members of the community can also get involved with the organization by volunteering or making a financial contribution.
"Often people leave their home with nothing on their back but the clothes that they're wearing," Schiller said they provide clothes and backpacks for the kids as well and their website contains a specific wish list of much needed items.
To learn more about SAVE, their upcoming Breakfast Eye Opener and about how you can help go to save-dv.org.
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