Domestic violence survivor finds healing through SARAH’s House support – WTOL

Report on SARAH’s House: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals Through Localized Victim Support

1.0 Introduction

SARAH’s House, a victim assistance center in Defiance County, Ohio, provides critical services to survivors of domestic violence. The organization’s work aligns directly with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrating a grassroots contribution to global targets for health, equality, and justice. This report outlines the services provided by SARAH’s House and analyzes their impact through the lens of the SDGs.

2.0 Core Services and Alignment with SDGs

The center offers a comprehensive support system designed to facilitate survivor recovery and empowerment. Serving between 45 and 60 individuals quarterly, its services are integral to achieving community safety and well-being.

• Safe Housing and Shelter: By providing a secure, homelike environment for survivors and their families, SARAH’s House directly contributes to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), specifically Target 11.1, which aims to ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing.
• Advocacy and Legal Support: The provision of court advocacy helps survivors navigate the legal system. This service is a critical component in advancing SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by promoting access to justice for victims of violence.
• Emotional and Psychological Support: Through dedicated victim advocates and guidance towards therapy, the center addresses the severe mental and emotional trauma associated with abuse. This focus on recovery is central to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), which emphasizes the promotion of mental health.

3.0 Case Study: Survivor Empowerment and Contribution to Gender Equality (SDG 5)

The experience of a survivor named Cait illustrates the organization’s impact. After enduring four years of physical, verbal, and mental abuse, she found the resources at SARAH’s House instrumental in rebuilding her life. This process of empowerment is a core objective of SDG 5 (Gender Equality), which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls.

1. Initial State: Trapped in an abusive relationship with little hope for the future.
2. Intervention: Received consistent support, encouragement, and guidance from a victim advocate.
3. Outcome: Successfully left the abusive environment, engaged in therapy, and is now “doing much better,” demonstrating a restoration of personal agency and well-being.

The director, Michelle White, channels her personal experience with domestic violence into her advocacy, reinforcing the center’s commitment to creating a supportive and empathetic healing environment.

4.0 Summary of Contributions to Sustainable Development

SARAH’s House functions as a key local institution advancing a multi-faceted development agenda. Its contributions include:

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Fostering mental and physical recovery from the trauma of domestic violence.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): Empowering survivors, predominantly women, to escape violence and rebuild their lives, thereby combating gender-based violence.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Providing safe shelter, which is a cornerstone of creating inclusive and safe communities.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Ensuring victims have access to the justice system through dedicated court advocacy.

5.0 Conclusion

SARAH’s House provides more than just immediate safety; it is an essential community resource that facilitates long-term healing and empowerment for survivors of domestic violence. By integrating safe housing, legal advocacy, and emotional support, the organization makes significant, tangible contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at the local level, particularly in the areas of health, gender equality, and justice.

1. SDGs Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   This goal is central to the article, which focuses on providing support to survivors of domestic violence. The work of SARAH’s House in offering a safe haven, advocacy, and resources directly contributes to eliminating violence against women, a key aspect of gender equality. The article highlights various forms of abuse, including “verbal abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse,” which are all forms of gender-based violence that SDG 5 aims to eradicate.

2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   The article connects to this goal by detailing how SARAH’s House helps survivors access justice and reduces violence. The provision of “court advocacy and other resources to help victims navigate the legal system” is a direct effort to ensure access to justice for a vulnerable group. By providing a safe environment and support, the organization contributes to reducing violence within the community and building a more peaceful society.

3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   The article addresses the severe impact of domestic violence on mental and emotional health. It notes the long-lasting trauma (“It’s still traumatic even to this day. That’s 30-some years later”) and the importance of recovery. SARAH’s House promotes well-being by offering “emotional support” and guiding survivors toward “therapy,” as mentioned by the survivor Cait, who is “doing much better after going through therapy and getting the help that I needed.”

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   This goal is relevant through its focus on providing safe and adequate housing. SARAH’s House addresses a critical need for emergency shelter, offering survivors “a safe place to stay if they need to get away right away or they don’t have a place to go.” This service is essential for making communities safer and more inclusive, particularly for those fleeing violent situations.

2. Specific Targets Identified

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.
     
     Explanation: The entire mission of SARAH’s House is to support survivors of domestic violence, which is a primary form of violence against women and girls. The article’s focus on helping survivors “rebuild their lives” after abuse directly aligns with this target.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
     
     Explanation: By providing a safe escape and resources, SARAH’s House directly intervenes to reduce the prevalence and impact of domestic violence in Defiance County.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
     
     Explanation: The article explicitly states that the center offers “court advocacy and other resources to help victims navigate the legal system,” which is a direct action to ensure survivors have access to justice.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
     
     Explanation: The center’s provision of “emotional support” and guidance towards “therapy” directly addresses the promotion of mental health and well-being for survivors of trauma, as described in the article.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services.
     
     Explanation: SARAH’s House provides essential emergency housing, described as “a safe place to stay,” for survivors who have nowhere else to go, fulfilling a basic need for safe shelter.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Implied Indicator (related to 5.2.1): Number of survivors of domestic violence receiving support services.
     
     Explanation: The article states that SARAH’s House “serves between 45 and 60 survivors each quarter.” This statistic can be used as a local-level indicator to measure the reach of support services and the scale of the problem being addressed.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Implied Indicator (related to 16.3.3): Number of individuals receiving legal or court advocacy services.
     
     Explanation: The mention of “court advocacy” implies that the number of survivors who use this service could be tracked to measure progress in providing access to the legal system for victims of violence.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Implied Indicator (related to 3.4): Number of individuals accessing mental health support and therapy.
     
     Explanation: The article highlights a survivor’s positive outcome from “going through therapy.” The number of survivors connected to or receiving such services through SARAH’s House would be an indicator of progress in promoting mental well-being.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Implied Indicator (related to 11.1.1): Number of individuals provided with safe, temporary housing.
     
     Explanation: The core function of providing “a safe place to stay” implies that the number of survivors and their families housed by the center is a key metric for measuring the provision of this essential service.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wtol.com