Do you know where to turn for help if you are a victim of domestic violence, rape, and abused? If you know someone needs help with these issues, can you point out the nearest center in your local area?
I was dumbstruck when asked for direction to the nearest shelter in my county. I did not even know if we have one or the name of any shelter for abused person. I knew my church provides temporarily shelter and foods for the homeless, but beyond that, I was in the dark. This led me to look up information for abused, and rape victims.
Below is a list of organizations in Livingston, Macomb, Wayne, Oakland, St. Clair, and Washtenaw Counties in Southeast Michigan. Keep at least one name and phone number of the center in your county handy, just in case you need to prefer someone who was a victim of this violence.
Livingston County
LaCasa—The toll free crisis hotline is 866-522-2725 or 517-548-1350
Located in Howell, the center provides educational workshop series in domestic violence, volunteer training, shelter, and various treatment programs. All services are free for victims, their families, and friends. The website provides many more information on survivors, as well as assailants, and community resources.
Macomb County
Turning Point—Phone hotline is open 24 hours at 586-463-6990
The center provides support for domestic and sexual violence. The mission is to help regaining the control of life. The program includes forensic exam, education, and victim compensation, as well as a comprehensive resource section.
Oakland County
Haven—248-334-1274 or toll free number 877-922-1274
The crisis hotline is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. The center offers residential shelter, intervention, treatment, prevention, and educational programs. You can also volunteer or donate, or buy calendar to support this organization.
St. Clair County
Safe Horizons—888-985-5538
If you live in St. Clair County, please call the center for more information.
Washtenaw County
SAPAC—734-936-3333
Located in Ann Arbor, and provided by University of Michigan, the center offers services such as education, training, referral, crisis intervention for sexual assault, stalking, domestic violence, and sexual harassment.
Wayne County
Victim Assistance Program, Detroit Police Rape Counseling Center—313-833-1660
VOICES (sexual abuse survivors), Catholic Social Services—313-883-2100
Located in Detroit, the center’s mission is: “To improve the quality of life throughout the life cycle by strengthening individuals, families and communities, by alleviating human suffering, and by advocatingpolicies and services which promote human dignity and self-sufficiency.
National Help Line
RAINN (The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network)—800-656-HOPE
Go online to look for a local help center by entering your state, or zip code. You can also view this site in Spanish. The hotline is available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Once in a blue moon, I got asked for help, and did not know where to send the person besides to my church. The ordeal bothers me for many days. Now, not only I know the name of the center in my area, I also know exactly where it is, just in case…
