Medina County battered women's shelter begins construction after COVID delay

MEDINA — Renovations to the Medina County Battered Women's Shelter will soon be underway to update and add more space to the building to provide groups and those staying there some private space. This shelter is a part of Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center, a domestic violence and rape crisis program for Medina and Summit counties. Its CEO, Teresa Stafford, started in mid-March after serving in anti-violence organizations in the Northeast Ohio area since 2006. Stafford said the past CEO decided to move those in the Medina County shelter to the Summit County shelter when COVID-19 hit. This decision was made as there were fewer people staying in both shelters due to the pandemic and it would give them the chance to begin working on the construction. "During the pandemic, there were a lot of delays unfortunately with regards to construction," Stafford said. With delays, Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center has just gone through the bidding process and planned to sign a general contractor as soon as possible. The building had been stripped before delays occurred, so the contractor will be able to immediately start on the needed renovations. "Although the shelter is under renovation, survivors can still access all of our core services in Medina County," Stafford said. "We have never stopped providing those services." The Medina County office, at 696 E. Washington St., provides counseling, advocacy, case management and access to a shelter, whether that be when the Medina shelter opens or with the Summit County shelter. "We are one of the largest shelters for domestic violence in the state of Ohio," Stafford said. "We have 154 beds here in Summit County and in Medina we have 20 beds." There are approximately 140 people in the Summit County shelter with half being children at the moment. Stafford said that there is no time limit for those staying in the shelter, but the office begins working with them after 72 hours. At that 72-hour mark, staff members work with those staying in the shelter to discuss safety planning and permanent housing options that are available for them. "Some people are able to move through the shelter within 45 days into permanent housing and then due to other circumstances, some people may stay up to three to six months," Stafford said. As Stafford adjusts to her position, she looks forward to the future of the organization in both counties. In Medina County, she hopes to work with other county organizations to increase Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center's ability to bring funding in to continue serving those in need. "When we were open, we were always filled," Stafford said. "So, to me, that shows that there's a need that unfortunately domestic violence doesn't skip a community." Contact reporter Sara Crawford at (330) 721-4063 or scrawford@medina-gazette.com.