While there are no homeless shelters in Schuylkill County, Schuylkill Women in Crisis has been providing a home for victims of domestic violence for about 25 years.
"Domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness among women," Sarah T. "Sally" Casey, SWIC executive director, said Thursday.
Since 1988, SWIC has operated a shelter for those made homeless due to domestic or sexual violence and now offers transitional housing for families where they may reside for up to two years as the organization assists them in finding permanent housing.
"We are the only shelter facility in the county," Casey said.
SWIC is funded through federal, state and county grants as well as donations from the Schuylkill United Way, private donors and foundations. The shelter is specifically for victims of domestic violence and has suites for families.
According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 50 percent of homeless women are fleeing domestic violence.
Casey said domestic violence is not just physical, but carries many emotional burdens. For example, women can feel isolated and are often not allowed to work or know how to provide for themselves.
"The woman does not have the resources to support" herself, Casey said. "Often their only option is to flee their homes. Others can't afford to stay in their home."
After the shelter was renovated in 2010, its capacity doubled to 32. However, the capacity remains at 25 due to funding cuts limiting staff and management, Casey said.
SWIC had 162 people - 92 adults and 70 children - at the shelter from 2010 to 2011 (fiscal years). In 2011 and 2012, 194 - 113 adults and 81 children - passed through the shelter. In 2012 and 2013, that number increased to 221 - 118 adults and 103 children.
For transitional housing, the person must live in the shelter for at least 30 days and have children.
The transitional housing program had 12 women and 22 children in 2010. In 2011, there were 11 women and 17 children in the program and in 2012, there were 12 women, one man and 19 children. In 2013, there were 16 women, one man and 30 children in the program.
Casey said now the focus of federal funding has shifted away from shelters to finding permanent housing. SWIC now has eight transitional homes.
"We are a community that is either unemployed or underemployed and has one of the oldest housing stock," Casey said. "The reality though is it is difficult for people to find permanent housing."
In order to receive federal funding, Casey said, the community has to show a continuum of care for the homeless in the county.
That is the purpose of the second point-in-time count in the county on Jan. 29 that includes about 29 human service agencies, nonprofits, churches and various other groups.
"We really appreciate the extended community is so involved because we see the problem as growing," Casey said.
One of the residents in the transitional housing said she came to SWIC about two years ago and now she is preparing to move into a new home with her daughter. Her name was not be revealed to protect her identity.
"I left an abusive situation at home 10 days before Christmas with my daughter," she said.
She said all they had was the clothes they packed.
"I was really scared," she said. "I didn't know what to expect, I just know I had to leave."
She said she thinks people hesitate in coming to the shelter because they do not know all of the services SWIC makes available to them. They also have the support of the other women in the shelter, she said.
"They do everything for you here," she said. "Thank God for them. I got my independence back and I have hope for the future."
All services are free and confidential regardless of gender. For more information about SWIC, the shelter or how to donate, visit website at www.s-wic.org.