For over four decades, Care Lodge Domestic Violence Shelter has been a source of safety and support for survivors across East Central Mississippi. Since 1981, the organization has served individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence. Care Lodge’s mission is rooted in a powerful belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a violence free life.
Care Lodge serves Clarke, Lauderdale, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Kemper, Scott, and Winston counties, including some reservation communities of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. All domestic violence services are provided at no cost, allowing survivors to seek help without worrying about their ability to pay.
Care Lodge recently reached an important milestone by securing funding to expand services throughout its nine-county service area. The funding allowed the organization to add two victim advocates who will provide crisis intervention, safety planning, advocacy, and other supportive services within the communities Care Lodge serves. This expansion is especially important for survivors in rural areas, where transportation challenges, long distances, and limited local resources can make accessing help difficult. By placing more advocates in surrounding communities, Care Lodge can bring essential support closer to survivors during an already challenging time.
The additional funding was also used to create a housing program that provides eligible survivors with up to 12 months of assistance. Because safe and stable housing is often one of the greatest challenges survivors face after leaving an abusive relationship, this support can provide valuable time to rebuild their lives. Survivors can focus on achieving greater independence, strengthening financial stability, and creating a secure environment for their families. The program helps families move beyond the immediate crisis and begin building safer, more hopeful futures.
The success of these efforts did not happen by chance. Strong community partnerships also played a major role. Care Lodge worked with local organizations to develop formal agreements that showed how survivors would be connected to a wide network of assistance. These partnerships include law enforcement, legal services, housing providers, healthcare organizations, transportation resources, educational institutions, and other community programs. This coordinated approach is important because no single organization can meet every need a survivor may have. When community partners communicate and work together, survivors are less likely to fall through the gaps.
The impact of Care Lodge can be seen in the individual lives touched by its advocates. In one recent situation, a survivor experiencing an immediate crisis received food, clothing, hygiene products, and help creating a personalized safety plan. Advocates also assisted the survivor with protection order paperwork and explained each step of the process. When additional concerns were identified, Care Lodge helped connect the survivor with the Veterans Crisis Line while continuing to focus on the survivor’s safety.
In a separate case, an abusive partner’s actions placed a survivor at risk of eviction. Care Lodge advocates educated the survivor about housing protections available under the Violence Against Women Act and provided support throughout the process. Their advocacy helped the survivor keep safe housing and avoid the additional trauma of displacement. With housing secured, the survivor was able to focus on healing and preparing for the future instead of facing homelessness.
These stories reflect what makes Care Lodge’s approach so meaningful. Advocates listen, provide information, explain available options, and support survivors as they make decisions about their own lives. Care Lodge also recognizes that safety involves more than leaving an abusive situation. Long-term healing may require stable housing, employment, financial security, legal assistance, childcare, counseling, and a strong support system. By addressing the needs of the whole person and family, Care Lodge helps survivors build a stronger foundation for lasting safety and independence.
Domestic violence can affect people of every background, and no survivor should have to face it alone. Through continued partnerships and community support, Care Lodge is helping ensure that survivors know help is available, their experiences will be taken seriously, and they deserve a safe future free from violence.
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