| What
kind of planning do I need to do to increase
my safety? |
| Call Sojourner’s
Crisis Line at
952-933-7422 or
the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233
and discuss your safety with a trained advocate.
They will ask questions to assess the level of
danger and help you determine action steps to increase
personal safety for yourself and/or others in your
care. See Elements of
Self Care and Safety Planning |
| What
do I need to do to come to the shelter? |
| You
can call Sojourner’s crisis line and talk
with a trained staff who will assess your safety
needs. If it is determined that you need the
services of the shelter, the staff will inform
you about the next steps to take. If there is
no available bed space at Sojourner’s shelter,
the staff will help you find another setting.
See resource Day One. |
| What
should I bring with me to shelter? |
| Personal safety is
a priority. If you have time, you can pack
and bring clothes or small personal items with
you however it is not necessary to bring anything.
Through the generosity of so many, Sojourner is
able to provide shelter residents with clothing,
personal toiletries and food. |
| What
are the benefits of coming to the shelter? |
| Sojourner’s
shelter provides emergency housing for single
women and women and their children who are homeless
as a result of violence and abuse. The Shelter
is a secure and confidential setting. It is staffed
by trained advocates and offers a variety of
services to assist the transition and healing
process. |
| What
will it cost for me to reside at the shelter? |
| Sojourner
is a non-profit organization. All services provided
by Sojourner to our clients are free of charge. |
| What
type of environment should I expect at the shelter? |
| Sojourner
provides a home-like atmosphere in a communal
setting. Families have access to kitchen
facilities, TV, phone, laundry and other daily
living resources. While women reside in the shelter,
trained advocates will help them identify personal
objectives and will also provide needed information
and support. |
| Will
I have my own room? Will my children
be in the same room with me? |
| Sojourner
attempts to provide clients with privacy as space
allows however residents may end up sharing a
bedroom. Children room with their parent. |
| Will
services continue when I leave the shelter? |
| Residents
can opt to continue to receive transition support.
The type of support will be determined
on an individual basis and may include individual
therapy and/or group support. |
| Is
transportation help available? |
| Sojourner
is close to bus routes and will assist as possible
with transportation to court dates, medical appointments,
and other domestic violence related appointments. |
| Are
there services I can receive if I do not reside
at the shelter? |
| Yes.
The Community Advocacy Program at Sojourner provides
legal advocacy and other supportive services
for victims of domestic violence living in the
west suburban communities of Hennepin County. Click
on the "Services" link. |
