CHESAPEAKE, Va. — 13News Now is shining a light on organizations making a special impact in our community.
The HER Shelter, or Help and Emergency Response Inc., is a safe haven for anyone facing serious situations like domestic violence in Hampton Roads.
“We are always full,” said Executive Director Olivia Smithberger. “It’s unfortunate but that is why we are here.”
People dealing with dangerous situations will find a secure space to regroup and rebuild at two HER Shelter locations in Hampton Roads.
“We really are here to help anyone in need, domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking,” Smithberger said.
She added that the nonprofit keeps the essentials for emergency clients: “We have a lot of people who leave in the middle of the night or leave only with their purse so their abuser doesn’t realize they are leaving,” Smithberger said. “We have everything they could need."
Breaking out of a pattern of abuse is difficult, but Smithberger said support is always a phone call away.
“If they need assistance with custody or someone to attend court with them,” Smithberger said. “If they need a support group, they just need to safety plan, have someone to talk to. They can work with all of our advocates without having to actually come into an emergency shelter.”
She said they don’t put a time limit on how long someone can stay.
“If somebody comes in and they don’t have their important documents, birth certificates, IDs, social security cards, obviously it is going to take longer to find permanent housing for them,” Smithberger said.
13News Now and our parent company, TEGNA, wanted to help the nonprofit assist more families. The TEGNA Foundation awarded the organization a $7,000 grant.
Smithberger said that the grant will go toward comfy accommodations.
“All of our rooms have bunk beds in them, but obviously they have wear and tear they need to be replaced and it is expensive to replace those,” Smithberger said. “so that is so exciting, everyone will be pumped about that, thank you!”
She said the nonprofit helps people reshape their future.
“I think seeing people a month later, a year later, five years later, and they are doing so good, that is what makes it worth it,” Smithberger said. “We hear a lot of tough stuff, we see a lot of tough stuff, but when you see somebody that is safe and happy and in a better place because of the HER Shelter, it makes it all worth it.”
The Her Shelter does not publicly share the shelter addresses for the safety of its clients. Anyone who needs help can call the HER Shelter’s 24-hour hotline at 757-485-3384.
The Her Shelter also manages a homeless shelter in Portsmouth.