Freedom House, with its mission to provide compassionate, confidential and free services to the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, announced its goal to bring a shelter to Kewanee.
The organization, which serves five counties of Henry, Bureau, Stark, Marshall and Putnam, currently has one shelter in Princeton, and Diana Whitney, board president, said they would like to see that change.
“Our goal is that at some point, we can have a shelter in Kewanee,” she said.
Over 50% of Freedom House clients come from Henry County, but well over half of those come from Kewanee.
A shelter in Kewanee would mean less disruption in the lives of Kewanee families in need of the services, especially when it comes to church and school, Whitney said. “Shelter is usually brief, just a couple of weeks, but they need a safe space.”
In addition to providing a shelter for families in domestic or sexual violence situations, Freedom House offers other free services such as crisis intervention and supportive services, criminal justice and legal advocacy and prevention education. Outreach centers are located in Geneseo, Cambridge, Princeton, Kewanee and Lacon.
Just last fall, the organization celebrated its 40th year. It was founded in 1983 by Nedda Simon, a family therapist, as a walk-in shelter in Wyanet. A few years after that, the Henry County Outreach Office was opened in Kewanee. In 1989, Freedom House moved from Wyanet to 314 N. Euclid Avenue in Princeton. The Sexual Violence Program was added in 1996, and three years later, administrative personnel, along with the prevention and sexual assault program staff were moved to Peru Street in Princeton, with the domestic violence program staff remaining on Euclid.
In the 2000s, outreach offices were opened in Marshall County and the Freedom House shelter and administration offices moved to Elm Place, on the former campus of The Covenant Children’s Home in Princeton. Freedom House also added four transitional apartments, which are available to clients for up to a two-year stay.
By 2017, Freedom House had served over 800 clients and provided more than 4,000 nights of shelter to women and families. In that same year, the shelter opened to men.
Now, the organization is looking to add a shelter in Kewanee and they are currently on the lookout for a house. Ideally, the new shelter would need three to four bedrooms with several bathrooms. They are open to either purchasing or renting the house, but it would require a special-use zoning permit.
Whitney said they have already looked at several houses, but haven’t had any luck. But even if they find a place, they will need to fund it. The shelter would require 24-hour staffing to ensure that the house is maintained.
“It’s a long term goal. We know it will take time to find it and fund it,” she said. “We’re hoping the community will help us. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.”
Whitney said more and more people are beginning to understand that breaking the cycle of domestic violence is important and that families who find themselves in that situation need assistance. That’s why adding a shelter to Kewanee is an important goal for Freedom House, she said, and it will provide someplace where they “can get out of the situation and take a deep breath. It’s a respite for them.”
Freedom House is a non-profit and is dependent on grants and donations. Whitney encourages people to visit the website at www.freedomhouseillinois.org or for more information, email info@freedomhouseillinois.com. For services or assistance, call the hotline at (800) 474-6031.
