Hope’s Wings suspended its residential housing service Friday after just one year of operation because of inadequate funding. During the past year, the center has provided shelter and safety to more than 200 women as they fight to be free from domestic violence. Robyn Moreland, executive director of Hope’s Wings, shared two stories with me that further illustrate the need and importance of funding the center because it is a matter of life and death.

The following stories submitted by Moreland are a first-person account of why these two women sought safety and shelter at Hope’s Wings. We will never know how their stories might have ended had the shelter program not been available to them when they needed it the most. Here are their stories as told by Moreland.



Resident No. 1

Our first shelter residents came in on Feb. 26, 2009, and stayed just one night. A mother and her three girls were the first to occupy our space. They needed shelter long enough for an emergency protective order to be filed and an order for their perpetrator to vacate their home. Our court advocate was able to assist her in the legal process, go to court and get the order filed. 

She was fearful for her life as well as her children’s lives because he constantly reminded them he had committed manslaughter a few years prior in another state. The constant intimidation turned physical toward herself and her daughters, that is when she knew she had to make a change. The night they stayed in the shelter, they all slept sound for the first time in a very long time. 

However, for me the most memorable part of their short stay was when I received a call the next day from a longtime childhood friend, a local teacher. She called to tell me about a student in her class. One of her students came to school and began telling her about where they stayed the night before. The child was explaining to her teacher how nice the place was and how there were so many toys that it felt like Christmas. 

Then, she went on to explain how everyone had their own beds and no one was fighting. The teacher immediately knew that the little girl had stayed at the shelter and felt comfort in knowing they had been safe from harm.



(SET ITAL) Resident No. 100 

One day, I came to the shelter early to meet the accountants preparing to do our annual audit. When I pulled into the parking lot, I saw three luxury cars parked in the lot, I assumed all belonged to the auditing team. After finding out there were only two accountants in the building, I asked the staff who was driving the other luxury car. 

They told me we had a new resident come in last night and it was her car. Then, it hit me. I was quickly humbled by the fact that anyone truly can be a victim of domestic violence. This lady came to our shelter from another county. She needed to flee from her home. She was too terrified to stay in a hotel because she needed the support from professionals to help her through this terrifying time. 

She had met her boyfriend after he was released from the state prison system. Being a good Christian, she saw in him a desire to change and gave him a chance. What began as a friendship quickly became romantic because of his good looks and charm. She owned her own home and had a six-figure income as an architect. She was just looking for someone to compliment her life — not control it.  

He quickly became controlling, moving into her home without permission, isolating her from family and friends while using threats of violence to continue the control. She awoke one morning and found him standing over her with a weapon. She acted as if she was going to work and never returned to her own home. 

Even after exhausting all legal protection we could offer her, she still was not safe going back to her home. After staying at the shelter for a few months, her employer transferred her out of state where she is slowly putting her life back together. (END ITAL)



These women had a happy ending because Hope’s Wings was available 24/7. Until sufficient funding is found, the center will not be able to provide shelter and safety for those in need when it matters most. If sufficient funding is not found to restore the shelter program, the outcome of the next story we tell may be tragically different. Funding Hope’s Wings is a quality of life issue when one’s life is on the line.

This community must find the means to protect future victims of domestic violence from harm, but the question is how. Consider this: When the earthquake hit Haiti, this community displayed great compassion, but more importantly opened their pocketbook when they thought they could give no more. Churches challenged each other and raised thousands of dollars. The chamber of commerce at their awards dinner raised approximately $1,500 in donations that evening alone. Furthermore, at least one Richmond grocer I frequent continues to ask patrons if they would like to donate a dollar or more for Haiti relief.

Perhaps if we all embraced that same energy, compassion and approach towards Hope’s Wings, we could generate enough funds to re-instate the shelter program until permanent funding is created. Even though many individuals, churches, service organizations and local governments have embraced Hope’s Wings since the beginning, their collective support was not enough to keep the shelter open 24 hours a day, seven days a week any longer.

With that said, even when temporary funding is secured, it doesn’t solve the real issue of permanent funding. It’s already been suggested that domestic violence be considered a public health issue, which it is. It would then fall under the jurisdiction of the Madison County Health Department. In order to cover the Hope’s Wings projected budget, property taxes would have to increase.

That would not be a popular decision as citizens feel they are taxed enough already. Citizen tax dollars already fund the ambulance service, schools, libraries, health department, extension office and animal shelter, which all are important services contributing to our community. Why shouldn’t Hope’s Wings be given the same attention and focus it deserves?

Borrowing a thought from Ronica Shannon’s recent column on domestic violence, Hope’s Wings is a quality of life issue that places a very high premium on the value of life itself. We must not forget the premise Hope’s Wings was founded upon … a center providing safety and 24/7 shelter when women’s lives are in jeopardy from domestic violence.