In August, Lutheran Social Services (LSS) Choices for Victims of Domestic Violence, the only domestic violence shelter serving Franklin County, recognized a major milestone when community leaders gathered to break ground at the new shelter location. The new facility will replace the current shelter, which is inadequate and often overcrowded.

“The new shelter will greatly increase our capacity to serve those in need of a safe haven to escape intimate partner violence, and we are extremely grateful for the support we’ve received from the central Ohio community,” said Sue Villilo, executive director of LSS CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence. “This innovative shelter will be a place of healing and will include state-of-the-art security and impactful programming and service to help victims transform into survivors.”

Through its Signature Impact Initiative, prioritizing funding to address pressing health and quality of life issues for the community’s vulnerable populations, the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation provided an early lead funding award in the amount of $2 million to help launch the capital campaign for CHOICES. The new shelter will more than double existing capacity to serve domestic violence victims and their families. In addition, CHOICES will expand services to include on-site crisis counseling, victim-centered advocacy and supports for families transitioning from the shelter to safe housing in the community. The new domestic violence shelter is scheduled to open in late 2018.

Learn more: about the funding award and CHOICES on our website and at: https://lssnetworkofhope.org/choices/