Gateway House Inc

Programs: Shelter services and crisis intervention: gateway provides 24/7 emergency shelter and crisis hotline services for domestic violence victims and their children living in hall county, georgia. All services are free and confidential, and all services are offered in english and spanish. Safety planning is a big part of all crisis intervention services. On average, 98% of program participants say they have strategies to enhance their safety when they leave gateway. In 2017, gateway provided shelter to 225 people (118 women and 107 children). Of those sheltered, 74 people were housed in a hotel for some or all of their stay. In total, 6,794 guest nights of shelter (and hotel accommodations) were provided and the average length of stay was 36 nights per guest. The same advocates who provide services for residential clients answer crisis hotline calls. In 2017, gateway advocates answered crisis calls from 1,273 victims of domestic violence.

transitional housing: gateway provides transitional housing to victims of domestic violence and their children. Gateway has a total of ten apartments in which low-income families can live rent-free for about six months as they gain employment and save up funds to secure their own homes. In 2017, 54 people (14 women and 40 children) lived in gateway's transitional housing program. A total of 18,901 guest nights of shelter were provided in this program.

comprehensive support: gateway provides supportive services including individual advocacy, support groups, and occupational therapy services for domestic violence victims and their children to help families live safer and more self-sufficient lives. These groups are facilitated by caring professionals, most of whom hold a master's degree in counseling or related field. In 2017, 114 adults attended support groups and classes (life skills, art support groups, "women seeking change,- and other parenting groups). Through the structured children's program, which is offered during the women's groups, children are provided an opportunity to share their fears and concerns. The children are made aware that violence is not the appropriate way to solve problems. In 2017, 161 children and teens attended support groups and 63 attended early learning programs.

legal advocacy: gateway employs legal advocates to help victims of family violence who are seeking a temporary protective order ("tpo"). These advocates work collaboratively with the superior court and sheriff's office to ensure that victims who qualify for this protection are able to access orders. In 2017, gateway's advocates helped 144 people to secure a tpo. Community outreach & education: gateway offers in-service training for criminal justice, medical and social service agencies who work with families so that they can better identify and respond to domestic violence. Community presentations are offered to civic organizations and churches. Prevention education is offered for students in local public schools. Elementary students learn what to do if there is violence in their homes and older students learn how to identify unhealthy relationships.