Program areas at Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pa
Emergency shelter and 24-hour hotline: dvssp operates two emergency safe house/shelters, both of which serve only Domestic Violence victims and their children. The emergency safe house/shelter facility located in Washington county has a capacity of 15 beds and 2 cribs. The emergency safe house/shelter facility located in fayette county has a capacity of 13 beds and 3 cribs. Safe shelter is provided in both shelters for up to 30 days at confidential locations. Services provided in the safe house/shelters include: 24-hour hotline; 24-hour intake and transportation; individual and group empowerment counseling; children's program; information and referrals; accompaniment; general and legal advocacy; and food, clothing, and personal care items. In fy 2022/23, a total of 2,194 shelter nights were provided to a total of 73 adults and children in the Washington county safe house/shelter. A total of 1,720 shelter nights were provided to a total of 39 adults and children in the fayette county safe house/shelter. The Washington county safe house/shelter fielded 1,524 Domestic Violence related hotline calls and the fayette county safe house/shelter fielded 782 Domestic Violence related hotline calls. A total of 3,925 hours of individual, group, and hotline empowerment counseling were provided to 1,183 Domestic Violence victims, children, and significant others in the Washington county safe house/shelter, and a total of 1,406 hours of individual, group, and hotline empowerment counseling were provided to 615 Domestic Violence victims, children, and significant others in the fayette county safe house/shelter.
Key housing program: in fy 2022/23, provided rehousing for 12 adults and 5 children by safely housing them in 9 apartments in Washington, greene, and fayette counties. Clients obtain leases for their own hud inspected apartments. Dvssp provides financial assistance, paying up to 100% of their rent, security deposit, and utility deposits for up to 12 months with a goal of financial independence at the end of the 12 months to pay their own rent and maintain permanent housing.
Prevention and outreach: the dvssp prevention and outreach department focuses on the prevention of Domestic Violence, community awareness of the impact of Domestic Violence, trainings about Domestic Violence and the Services available to victims, and volunteer opportunities within the organization. In fy 2022/23 in Washington county: 20 educational/awareness programs were provided to 2,961 adults, and 498 education/awareness programs were provided to 10,269 students and youth. 498 primary prevention programs were provided to 10,269 students and youth. 7 community/systems trainings were provided to 126 persons, and 144 media and events of other types were completed. In fy 2022/23 in greene county: 8 education/awareness programs were provided to 153 adults, and 72 education/awareness programs were provided to 2,003 students and youth. 72 primary prevention programs were provided to 2,003 students and youth. 63 media and events of other types were completed. 2 community/systems trainings were provided to 50 persons. In fy 2022/23 in fayette county: 8 education/awareness programs were provided to 123 adults, and 223 education/awareness programs were provided to 3,750 students and youth. 223 primary prevention programs were provided to 3,750 students and youth. 5 community/systems trainings were provided to 113 persons, and 99 media and events of other types were completed. Regarding volunteer efforts in fy 2022/23, 14 Washington county volunteers provided a total of 380.17 hours of service, 6 greene county volunteers provided a total of 219.99 hours of service, and 4 fayette county volunteer provided a total of 725.66 hours of service.
Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pa satellite office: dvssp operates a satellite office in greene county. Services provided to victims of Domestic Violence included: 24-hour hotline; transportation to the Washington county or fayette county emergency shelter facilities; information and referrals; group and individual empowerment counseling; accompaniment; and legal and general advocacy. In fy 2022/23, our greene county site fielded 401 Domestic Violence related hotline calls. A total of 327 counseling hours were provided to a total of 312 victims, significant others, and children. A total of 134 protection from abuse petitions were filed through our greene county site, which enters all greene county pfa petitions into the statewide pfa database. Legal advocacy: in addition to dvssp legal advocacy Services offered in our greene county satellite office, our legal advocacy office in the Washington county courthouse provides empowerment counseling and legal advocacy to victims of Domestic Violence. Services include information and referrals and assistance in filing protection from abuse petitions. In fy 2022/23, 619 protection from abuse petitions were filed through our Washington county legal advocacy program, which also enters all Washington county pfa petitions into the statewide pfa database. In fy 2022/23 in our fayette county legal advocacy program, 599 protection from abuse petitions were filed.