No woman or child should ever have to endure the damaging effects of physical and sexual abuse. Given the opportunity to feel safe again, no woman or mother would ever choose to stay in a dysfunctional home with an abusive partner. House of Helping Hands, a charitable institution specializing in helping abused women and children, is opening its doors to provide a sanctuary for women and their children who wish to feel secure, loved, and valued at the same time.
Domestic abuse is a prevalent occurrence in the country that often goes unchecked if the woman feels that she has nowhere else to go. 72% of the abused women who have been interviewed revealed that they choose to stay in a troubled relationship because they were unable to provide for their children. House of Helping Hands is changing the lives of many women and their children as they are given temporary shelter, therapy and empowerment programs that will make them skilled workers. They also assist them through promising job placements. The institution provides numerous opportunities for women to turn their backs on their old life and find the strength to begin anew.
The long-term scope of House of Helping Hands intends to impact all 50 states in the United States. At present, all efforts are initially being made in the San Fernando Valley area in Los Angeles County. In the future, however, the institution will be expanding to other key areas with rampant cases of domestic violence to serve an even bigger group of victims. At the end of the day, the ultimate goal is to guide and assist battered women and their children until they are ready to get back up on their feet; expansion would also include all genders.
House of Helping Hands also has programs specifically developed to help children who are mostly the ones who suffer the most as they are witnesses to the abuse. The goal is not only to remove them from the abusive relationship but to ensure that they are able to process the situation as they should until they are emotionally and psychologically ready to face the world head-on once more. The institution sees these children one day become productive members of the community and not as liabilities if they are left to deal with their trauma by themselves.
Those who seek hope and a place of refuge will find it in the House of Helping Hands. Founder Eli Hilomen was motivated by her personal experience. Fully understanding what it is like to be trapped in a dreadful and traumatic relationship, she opted to establish House of Helping Hands to reach out to more women like her.
“I have been a victim of domestic violence in 2009. I have suffered in silence due to the lack of resources to help me leave my abusive situation. It took me 3 years to be able to leave that dreadful situation and 7 years before I was able to admit and talk about my experiences. Now, I am ready to fight and help those who are in a similar situation. Only those who have experienced the same would be able to understand where we are coming from, and it would be less of a challenge to obtain trust and provide trust. I would like to be able to help others find their hope in a hopeless situation,” Eli explains.
As a charitable institution, House of Helping Hands relies heavily on the support and generosity of people who believe in their vision to create a better future for abused women and their children. Eli Hilomen realized from the very beginning that they would not be able to do the advocacy alone. They need the support of the community and even the business sector to help them fend for the needs of their clients who are recovering from their hurts. With the help of donors, House of Helping Hands is helping women and children heal.
For more information, visit the House of Helping Hands website. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
