Nancy says that a few of the advocates are uneasy about the violent partners left in the outside world. Some of these men are obsessed about finding their wives and girlfriends, following them across the state and across the country. It's not unusual for women to come to the Fairbanks shelter from other states to escape men who abuse them. A resident of the shelter prepares a snack for her child. But the only time Nancy questions her own safety is when she leaves work at night.
Advocacy is a crisis-based service.
Many of the women who come to the shelter may have stayed in abusive relationships because they didn't know where to find help establishing independence. The advocates tell them where they can find legal assistance, job assistance, medical assistance, rental assistance. Without a doubt, the shelter's heart is in the bright, roomy kitchen. On this afternoon, one of the women is at the stove cooking an early dinner of sausage and eggs for her children, and the meaty aroma permeates the second floor. Affirmations posted on the wall are part of the attempt to empower women who have been living in an abusive situation.