Fighting the fear of abuse
Port Clinton, Ohio- A battered woman sat quietly at a city safe haven, from her abuser and was contemplating how she would start her life without him. Surrounded by other survivors at Ottawa County Transitional Housing, an organization that helps victims recover and independantly support themselves, she was waiting to talk with her mentor about her future. When partime mentor Corrine Creeden walked up to her, she began to open up about a dream she never fullfilled. When the woman returned back to school she hit a snag, but Creeden talked her through it, and now shes in a pretty good spot. Creeden says, she has always wanted to be a benefit to her community, Im helping people out on an individual level, which is something that will help the community as a whole. It feels good. Alot of times they dont have money, the abuser controls controls who they talk to, and where they go. Being abused emotionally and physically is what I would consider a very grim situation. I think the hardest thing is just to realize the situation people are in. Its really hard to see someone come in, and they're situation is really grim. She attends court hearings with victims after the abuser is arrested, and steers them to places where they can find shelter, financial help, and counseling. Her cases deal with menacing, stalking, and assault.