Chez Hope offers help to domestic violence victims

In the wake of Friday’s arrest of a Patterson man for manslaughter in the death of a Bayou Vista woman allegedly due to his abuse, victims of domestic violence in St. Mary Parish have an outlet to turn to where they can seek confidential help.
Chez Hope Family Violence Crisis Center, located in Franklin, has a crisis intervention hotline, which people can call confidentially to discuss whatever situations they’re facing, Chez Hope Executive Director Cherrise Picard said. That crisis intervention phone number is 1-800-331-5303.
For calls other than crisis intervention, Chez Hope’s phone number is 337-828-4200. Inquiries about the emergency shelter, public awareness campaigns or people just wanting to talk can call the main phone number, Picard said.
Anyone who’s in a situation where they are unsure of what to do, or are even unsure whether they are in a domestic violence situation, should call and talk to an advocate, Picard said. The center is staffed 24/7, and callers don’t have to give their identity, she said.
Chez Hope is a non-profit organization funded through grants, foundations and donations from the community, and serves St. Mary and Assumption parishes.
The center serves women, men and children. So far in 2015, Chez Hope has provided services for 410 people, Picard said.
Chez Hope has an emergency shelter in Franklin where domestic violence victims can live for up to six weeks and have all their expenses paid for during that time, Picard said. The shelter has three apartment units and one handicap accessible unit in its main building that can each house a family, Picard said.
Chez Hope also has an “alternative shelter,” which provides a place for domestic violence victims to live when they are out of immediate danger. Residents can live at the alternative shelter up to three months, Picard said. While at the alternative shelter, residents begin paying for their paper products and food, she said.
Chez Hope helps people of both low and high income, married couples, same-sex couples and boyfriend-girlfriend relationships, she said.
“A lot of people think we only help women, but we do help men also,” Picard said.
The center started as a non-residential program in 1982 by Mennonite missionary Elizabeth Richmond, who saw a need for a domestic violence program in St. Mary Parish, Picard said. Its emergency center opened in 2007 and is the only one in St. Mary Parish. Since that time, public awareness of domestic violence has increased because people are being educated on the topic, Picard said.
Chez Hope offers in-person “option counseling,” which informs people of where to get resources such as food stamps, child support and houses for rent, Picard said.
Through Chez Hope’s legal advocacy program, staff members assist people with filing temporary restraining orders and will go to court with domestic violence victims providing a support system, Picard said. However, Picard stressed that staff members aren’t attorneys and don’t give legal advice, she said.
The center provides tutoring for children living in the shelter, which is funded by Lafayette Homeless Education, Picard said. A summer camp is offered through the center beginning July 1 for children living in the shelter.
Chez Hope has a children’s support group as well, Picard said.
Throughout the school year, Chez Hope’s child advocate does presentations in the school system including Hands Are Not for Hitting, Bully-Free Kids and Teen Dating Violence, Picard said.
Chez Hope relies on a lot of volunteers who can help with answering phones, answering the door, volunteering to help with the children’s group and planning fundraisers, Picard said.
Chez Hope attends health fairs or other programs and “wants to be a part of everything as much as possible,” Picard said.
“Anytime we can get out in the public to raise awareness, we’re ready to do it,” Picard said.

This story was written by Zachary Fitzgerald of The Daily Review staff. Reach him at zfitzgerald@daily-review.com