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. The emergency safe house/shelter facility located in fayette county has a capacity of 14 beds. Safe shelter is provided in both shelters 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 2023/24, a total of 1,929 shelter nights were provided to a total of 59 adults and children in the Washington county safe house/shelter. A total of 1,580 shelter nights were provided to a total of 27 adults and children in the fayette county safe house/shelter. The Washington county safe house/shelter fielded 923 Domestic Violence related hotline calls and the fayette county safe house/shelter fielded 848 Domestic Violence related hotline calls. A total of 2,574 hours of individual, group, and hotline empowerment counseling were provided to 1,111 Domestic Violence victims, children, and significant others in the Washington county safe house/shelter, and a total of 1,289 hours of individual, group, and hotline empowerment counseling were provided to 647 Domestic Violence victims, children, and significant others in the fayette county safe house/shelter.

Key housing program: in fy 2023/24, provided rehousing for 29 adults and 29 children by safely housing them in 18 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 2023/24 in Washington county: 91 educational/awareness programs were provided to 5,146 adults, and 541 education/awareness programs were provided to 10,888 students and youth. 543 primary prevention programs were provided to 10,872 students and youth. 8 community/systems trainings were provided to 182 persons, and 582 media and events of other types were completed. In fy 2023/24 in greene county: 11 education/awareness programs were provided to 227 adults, and 139 education/awareness programs were provided to 3,096 students and youth. 134 primary prevention programs were provided to 2,801 students and youth. 34 media and events of other types were completed. Washington county: 43 primary prevention programs were provided to 509 adults. In fy 2023/24 in fayette county: 223 education/awareness programs were provided to 3,533 students and youth. 223 primary prevention programs were provided to 3,533 students and youth. 37 media and events of other types were completed. Regarding volunteer efforts in fy 2023/24, 20 Washington county volunteers provided a total of 641.79 hours of service, 4 greene county volunteers provided a total of 498.26 hours of service, and 1 fayette county volunteer provided a total of 227.17 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 2023/24, our greene county site fielded 177 Domestic Violence related hotline calls. A total of 226 counseling hours were provided to a total of 194 victims, significant others, and children. A total of 108 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 and fayette county legal advocacy office both provide 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 2023/24, 613 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 2023/24 in our fayette county legal advocacy program, 587 protection from abuse orders were filed and entered into the statewide pfa database.