Emergency Shelter

The Charles T. and Joan Meyer Shelter provides women and their dependent children, who are fleeing domestic violence, temporary shelter. During their shelter stay, residents receive support to empower themselves to live free of violence. Services include:

• Individual Counseling
  Specially trained staff and volunteers provide women and children with domestic violence education and safety planning. Counselors devote time for each client to discuss individual issues and concerns while also providing available referrals and resources during their stay at the shelter.
• Support Groups
  Groups are an important process at the shelter, where women and their children can share common experiences, fears and hopes. This enables participants to understand that they are not alone and that they can change their lives for the better.
• Art Therapy
  This program is a therapeutic art expression process that provides clients with a medium for enhancing communication skills and an opportunity to express their feelings. This program provides participants with a non-verbal way to express their feelings and experiences, and can open the door to begin healing.
• Court Advocacy
  Advocates are available to assist women residing at the shelter with obtaining Orders of Protection and other rights available to them under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act.
• Medical Services
  A registered nurse provides medical assessments for every shelter resident.
• Recreation
  An indoor playroom and outside playground are available to shelter residents as part of their recreation/leisure time activity. Field trips to recreational areas and places of interest are also offered.
  
  
  
  Director of Residential & Crisis Hotline Services
  Melissa Russell
  melissa.russell@vpcswi.org
  (618) 236-2531 ext 112