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Harriet's House offers shelter for victims of domestic violence Victims of domestic violence often blame themselves, said Peggy Palmer, victim advocate and case manager with Harriet's House domestic abuse shelter. "They are embarrassed. They are ashamed. They feel guilty." Palmer spoke Nov. 15 to the current class of Leadership Clarke County at Alabama Southern Community College in Thomasville. Women caught in an abusive relationship suffer from "a constant state of anxiety - because you don't know what is going to happen next." A victim doesn't know what will cause an abusive partner to go out of control, she said. "It's really a horrible situation." Friends will say "why don't you just leave him. It's not that easy." Threats of harm or taking children away keep a woman in an abusive situation. Harriet's House offers victims counseling and points them to local resources such as the Department of Human Resources (DHR). The shelter, established in 1995, is located at a secluded location in Demopolis and can house up to 16 women and children. The agency has a satellite office at the DHR office in Grove Hill. The agency is one of 20 shelter programs in Alabama and its coverage area includes Choctaw, Clarke, Greene, Marengo and Sumter Counties. Harriet's House is a member of the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence. There is no time limit for women and children to stay at the Demopolis shelter. Cases are reviewed on a 30-day basis. Services through Harriet's House are free and confidential, Palmer said. Transportation can be provided to the Demopolis shelter, or in some cases, a victim may be sent to another shelter in the state. Women make up the majority of the victims seeking help from the agency, but there are male victims also. Palmer is currently working with a male victim. There are six million women beaten annually in the United States, she said. Approximately 4,000 are beaten critically. Children that are exposed to domestic violence total 3.3 million. "On any given night, 55 percent of the population of shelter is children," Palmer said. That exposure to violence often influences the male child to also be violent as an adult. Over 50 percent of out-of-shelter cases are found in Clarke County, she said, which is the most populous county the agency serves. Also, having a satellite office in Grove Hill has allowed more victims in Clarke County to take advantage of the services. Harriet's House is funded through grants, and church and private donations. The Harriet's House crisis line is 1-334-289-8988 (collect calls are accepted) or call toll free 1-800- 650-6522.
Palmer also reminded the class that victims of domestic violence could call E-911 from any working cell phone no matter if the phone has service through a car-
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