Alpena Woman Overcomes Abuse With The Aid Of Hope Shores Alliance
Local organization Hope Shores Alliance has a history of helping victims of domestic violence.
According to the national coalition on domestic violence, on a typical day in America, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide. On average nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. For one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.
“Not knowing what was coming. never knowing. walking on eggshells,” said Evonne Cooke, a domestic violence survivor. Many survivors of domestic violence recount similar stories. “He was volatile. there was no escalating a situation. he was always already there.”
One day, Evonne had enough. “When I got to the doctor’s office and they saw my face, they asked if I wanted law enforcement to be called. I don’t know where I got the courage, because I’ve never, never did that before. I said, ‘yes’,” she said.
When law enforcement was called, they assigned Evonne an advocate from Hope Shores Alliance. “She showed up, she took me to the hospital. She stayed with me the entire time at the hospital.”
A new future started for Evonne, one with hope and something to look forward to. “I had nothing. all I had was the shirt and the pants that I had on,” she said. With her willingness and the resources that are offered at Hope Shores Alliance, she was able to turn over a new leaf. “If it weren’t for Hope Shores, I don’t believe I’d be here today because I would have gone back to him, and I might have not survived,” she said.
Executive Director for Hope Shores Alliance Valerie Williams from breaks down how they operate. “Whether you’re accessing therapy, trauma healing, supports, advocacy services. maybe you need to go to court; we are available 24/7Â to talk through crisis intervention,” she said. “We’re able to help people locate housing. we can even help pay for some housing depending on certain situations.”
Evonne has a whole new lease on life and is never going to look back. “How my life has changed is that I go to bed, and I can sleep through the night,” she said. “I can make a salad for dinner if that’s all I want for dinner without somebody screaming, because that’s not a meal. I’m a free spirit now. I’m free.”
If you or someone you love is experiencing sexual or domestic violence you can contact Hope Shores Alliance at 800-396-9129.
