The Hospitality House For Women In Rome, Georgia is a place where women and children of Rome and Floyd County can turn to escape the horrors of domestic violence. It has such an important role in our community and many people don’t even realize that it exists or what it does to help women find their freedom. Hospitality House envisions a community free from the threat and oppression of intimate partner violence.
I was able to meet with Caroline Groce who is the Outreach Coordinator at Hospitality House For Women and she helped me to understand how important this organization is in our community.
What Is Hospitality House
Hospitality House in Rome, Georgia is a safe place for women and their children to go to escape an abusive partner. Did you know that one in three women will experience some form of violence from their significant other in their lifetime and that three out of four Americans know a person who is a victim of domestic violence? One in nine men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.
Domestic Violence comes in many forms. It can be physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, verbal abuse, and or sexual abuse.
Hospitality House works hard to combat domestic violence by providing shelter and a safe place with resources that can help women escape from their situation and start their new lives. They have a staff of experts who are there to help them with things such as shelter, food, clothing, education, intervention, legal advocacy, counseling and support groups, and financial support.
They also have an outreach and advocacy service in the community so they can help women obtain services even when they are not in the shelter.
The History Of Hospitality House in Rome, Georgia
Hospitality House has a long and distinguished history in Rome and Georgia. Founded in 1978, it was the second domestic violence shelter to open in the state. In the 1970s, the domestic violence movement was just beginning, and Hospitality House was at the forefront of providing support and services to victims.
Originally a small one-week shelter with five beds, Hospitality House has expanded dramatically over the years. Today, it is a 27-bed facility that provides a safe haven for victims and their children, as well as a wide range of support services, including counseling, legal advocacy, and job training.
Hospitality House is a special place because of its long history of serving the community and its commitment to helping victims of domestic violence rebuild their lives.
What Makes Hospitality House Stand Out From Other Organizations
Domestic violence is a sensitive topic that many people are reluctant to discuss or don’t know how to approach. One way that Hospitality House stands out is by providing targeted services to a specific population.
Hospitality House serves the wider community by attending community events and providing prevention education and healthy relationship workshops with school-aged children. They also work with young teens and high schoolers on safe dating practices. Their primary focus is on serving domestic violence survivors and their families, but they also have a significant impact on the broader community of Rome.
You can find them participating in many public events in Rome. For example, they have a booth at Fiddling Fest in October and at the Health Initiative for Men and Women (HIMAW) held at the Floyd County Health Department (FCHD). They work with the most vulnerable populations in Rome to provide support and resources.
It Takes A Team Of Dedicated Staff
Hospitality House has a dedicated staff of experts who are committed to helping survivors of domestic violence thrive. The staff includes a family advocate, a women’s advocate, a legal advocate, and an outreach and prevention coordinator. There is also staff who manages the thrift store, the shelter, and the finances. All of these individuals work closely with the board of directors and assistant director to provide the best possible services to survivors, with dignity and hope.
Hospitality House In The Community
Hospitality House gives presentations at local churches and schools. They partner with nonprofit organizations to provide prevention education to vulnerable children and be present in the larger Rome community. Currently, Hospitality House is working on a partnership with the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services to be more accessible to them.
Hospitality House Thrift Store
Hospitality House Thrift Store is located at 610 Shorter Ave, Rome, Georgia 30165. It accepts donations of gently used items, which are resold to benefit Hospitality House. Survivors staying at Hospitality House are given vouchers to shop at the store to buy things they need.
Walk A Mile In Her Shoes
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is an annual fundraiser for Hospitality House for Women. The event takes place during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October and invites community members to walk down Broad Street in women’s shoes to raise awareness and show solidarity against domestic violence.
Domestic violence is a complex issue that affects people of all genders, but it disproportionately affects women. By participating in Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, we can help to raise awareness and funds to support survivors of domestic violence.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
In 1989, Congress passed a law designating October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Although many people associate October with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month was actually established first. During my interview with Caroline, she pointed out that sharing October with Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a great way to support women and women’s health.
Getting Help From Hospitality House
How does someone get help from Hospitality House? Call the 24-hour crisis line at (706) 235-4673 (HOPE). Someone will answer and ask you questions to see how they can best help you. Their services are free and confidential, and the safety of domestic violence survivors is their top priority. That’s why their location is never disclosed to the public, and they are completely discreet with all of the survivors who contact them.
Why Don’t They Just Leave?
One of the most common questions Hospitality House gets is: “Why doesn’t someone just leave an abusive relationship?” It’s not that simple. There are many reasons why survivors stay, such as lack of financial resources, fear of losing their children, or isolation from friends and family. It takes an average of seven attempts to leave an abuser for good. We should never judge a survivor’s situation. Instead, we should offer help and support. That’s why Hospitality House is so important. It provides non-judgmental assistance to survivors of domestic abuse.
Hospitality House Is Changing Lives
I was honored to meet with Caroline Groce, the Outreach Coordinator at Hospitality House for Women. She shared that one of the most rewarding moments for her is seeing the transformation in the women who come to the shelter. She talked about how amazing it is to see how survivors make changes and get to start over with a new life.
Witnessing the women’s progress keeps Caroline and the staff motivated to continue their work, along with the supportive and collaborative team environment. Caroline encourages others who want to make a difference in their community to find a cause they are passionate about and support it. She also advises people not to be afraid to share their ideas and jump in with new solutions.
How You Can Help
You can learn more at: HospitalityHouseForWomen.org
Make a big difference by donating to Hospitality House. Some of their most constant needs are toilet paper, paper towels, detergent pods, new or gently used towels, washcloths, and sheets (preferably in twin XL but any size is appreciated). When the women leave the shelter and start their new lives, they take these items with them. Contact Caroline at cgroce@hhfw.org if you have questions about volunteering or donating.
Follow them on Facebook to keep up with their events in the community: Hospitality House for Women, Inc
Drop Off Donations at Hospitality House Thrift Store at 610 Shorter Ave Suite 20, Rome, GA
Donate or participate at Walk A Mile In Her Shoes
Sign up for our email list to receive The Ultimate Bucket List For When In Rome, Georgia; you will never miss out on news about When In Rome, Georgia.
For more non-profits in Rome, Georgia check out When In Rome, Ga Non-Profits In Rome.
