ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
What do a comic shop, a restaurant, several hotels, a barber shop and Buncombe County libraries have in common? They are some of the places survivors of intimate partner abuse or sexual violence can go for help.
The PorchLight Project, which launches July 1, is a collaboration between dozens of local businesses and community agencies to give survivors access to a phone and a safe place to wait for services to respond.
“I can’t believe this program doesn’t already exist. This should always have been,” said Comic Envy owner Allison, who did not want to give her last name. “It seems like something everybody should be part of.”
PorchLight community partner businesses have received specialized training about the dynamics of intimate partner and sexual violence, the project’s website said.
“I think it’s very important,” Signs for Hope Marketplace’s Becky Lloyd said. “We want to be there in case someone ever needs help.”
The collaboration of the Buncombe County Family Justice Center partner agencies, Helpmate and Our VOICE is an effort to build a community of support for victims and survivors of sexual and domestic violence and human trafficking, according to the website.
The project aims to create a network of local businesses that have agreed to present themselves as a place for survivors of intimate partner and/or sexual violence to ask for help.
“We’re so excited to be part of it. It was a no-brainer to me. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain,” Allison said. “The more (safe places) there are, the harder it would be to keep people from making a call for help.”
Our VOICE and Helpmate will collaborate on program maintenance, operation of respective 24/7 hotlines, ongoing survivor support and provide PorchLight partners with training opportunities at no cost.
Statistics show domestic violence-related homicides in Buncombe County rose from no fatalities in 2022 to three related fatalities in 2023. The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners received and reviewed the latest recommendations from the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (DVFRT) during a recent board meeting.