Mission Statement
Sojourner Truth House is an organization dedicated to the prevention and elimination of violence in a family setting by:

• Providing temporary shelter for battered women and their children;
• Providing couseling, advocacy, referrals and peer support to victims to create and maintain their personal strength, self-esteem, and the skills necessary to seek alternatives to violence;
• Providing support and education to men and women who have identified violence in their behavior with their spouse or partner; and
• Providing education to increase awareness and understanding of family violence

White - 11%; Black - 78.25%; Hispanic - 7.25%; Native American - .5%; Asian - .5%; Mixed Heritage- 2.5%

Programs and Services
Sojourner Truth House offeres shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. There is a capacity of 36 women and children and backup resources for times hwne the shelter is full. Room and board, group and individual counseling, advocacy services and child care are provided in addition to safety from the threat of violence.

1997 Statistics
Number of women sheltered: 325
Number of children sheltered: 475

Average capacity: 79%

Batterers Anonymous-Beyond Abuse helps abusers understand and control patterns and acts of violence through 23-week support and education groups. Community and youth education presentations on violence prevention are also offered. Once Chance is a one-day early intervention program for men and women who have few or no previous contacts with the judicial system because of domestic violence.

1997 Statistics
Men Served: 341
Women Served: 35

The Domestic Violence Hotline for Milwaukee County is locatd at Sojourner Truth House. Crisis, information and referral calls are recieved as well as calls from the Miilwaukee Police Department and 13 suburban police departments. The Hotline is a resource to victims identified by police under the domestic violence mandatory arrest law.

1997 Statistics
Crisis calls -- self-initiated: 3,194
Crisis calls -- police-initiated: 11,187
Information and referral calls: 3,430

We provide advocacy services at the Milwaukee county District Attorney's office through the Domestic Abuse Advocacy program. Our Domestic Abuse Advocates contact victims of domestic violence involved in the legal system, explain court procedures and support them through the court process.

1997 Statistics
Female Victims Served: 3,024
Male Victims Served: 188

Background of the Agency
In February, 1978, Sojourner Truth House incorporated as a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization.

Sojourner Truth House opened Milwaukee's first shelter for battered women and their children in July, 1978 after receiving a grant from the Community Development Agency. We renovated an old duplex and sheltered over 200 women and 300 children per year.

In February, 1980 Sojourner Truth House purchased a larger facility with funds received from local foundations and individuals. Currently, we are the oldest and largest shleter in Milwaukee for battered women and their children and serve over 325 women and 475 children each year.

On May 1, 1986 the City of Milwaukee Police Department implemented a Mandatory Arrest Policy and designated Sojourner Truth House to oversee and operate the 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline. On April 1, 1989, a statewide Mandatory Arrest Law became effective. Police officers from Milwaukee and surrounding suburbs call the Hotline from the scene of the domestic violence incident giving information on the victim and the abuser. We then communicate directly with the victim to assess safety and other needs, and provide information on the legal process and community resources.

Shelter Program
In addition to providing the essentials of food, shelter and clothing, Sojourner Truth House also has a program designed specifically for women and children. When a woman enters the shelter, she is encouraged to stay at least a day or two. This time will enable her to adjust to the communal living of the house and to assess her available options regarding the abusive relationship.

Advocacy is an integral part of the program and each woman meets with the Program Director. Problem-solving and crisis intervention techniques are used by the staff at the shelter. Interaction with other residents helps the family feel less isolated. There are also women's and children's support groups; self-esteem and parenting groups. There is a nonviolence rule at the Sojourner Truth House; spanking as a form of discipline is not allowed.

The Activity Coordinator schedules in-house and community activities for the women and children. Much attention is given to the children to help them cope with the experience of violence in their home.

In our role of being supportive of the women at the shelter, it is extremely important that they be informed of their alternatives and choices. Much of the work at the shelter is provided through information, referral and advocacy services for medical, legal, housing and financial needs.

District Attorney Advocacy Program
In August, 1993 we started providing advocacy services at the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office. Our Domestic Abuse Advocates accompany and support a victim through the various stages of the criminal justic system. Over 3,200 men and women were served during 1997:

Shelter Facts

• Sojourner Truth House operates a Domestic Violence Hotline which receives 800 - 1100 calls per month. The hotline and shleter are accessible 24 hours a day.
• The average length of stay per resident in 1997 was 14 days.
• Fifty-five percent of the women who stayed at Sojourner Truth House in 1997 had children with them.
• In 1997, 23% of residents were employed, and 86.5% were at the low-income level.
• In 1997, we provided 10,366 nights of shelter and over 30,000 meals.
• Abusive behavior knows no class, ethnic or economic lines. We have sheltered and served women from all walks of life. Many of them would have been homeless without a shelter for safety.
• Althought each case is different, all of the women have wanted one thing... that the abuse stop.

Batterers Anonymous-Beyond Abuse
Iin response to a need for serviceto assist abusers in changing their violent behaviour, Sojourner Truth House began Batterers Anonymous-Beyond Abuse in September, 1981. Batters Anonymous-Beyond Bause offers ongoing weekly self-help support groups for men, and since May, 1986, also for women who have identified violent behavior in their lives. The groups are open to individuals from all walks of life and information behavior in their lives. There is a sliding-scale fee for the program.

Over 375 Individuals joined the program last year, and over 5,600 have been served since 1981. The number of individuals who attend Batterers Anonymous-Beyond Abuse groups has been increasing as the program becomes more familiar to professionals working in the criminal justice system and other social service agencies. Thirteen weekly support groups are held at the Batterers Anonymous-Beyond Abuse offices.

The Batterers Anonymous-Beyond Abuse 23-week program helps people to stop participating in abusive behavior. Each meeting is a blend of necessary support and directive education. Because Batterers Anonymous-Beyond Abuse members have been involved in some form of abuse, they are able to relate to each other's problems and to provide a mutual support network. Some members even help one another outside of their meeting sby contacting each other during a time of need. Since abuse is a learned behavior it is necessary to learn constructive behaviors to use in place of the destructive ones. Batterers Anonymous-Beyond Abuse participants learn the "tools" that help them to deal with conflict in healthy, nonviolent ways.

The One Chance program which began in 1995 is a one-day early intervention proram for men and women who have few or no previous contacts with the judicial system because of domestic violence. In1997 there were 211 individuals who completed this program.