Domestic Violence Support Groups and Advocacy Without a Roof

“If the Bradley Angle group I attended had not been a resource to me, I’m certain I would have bottled up my pain and shared it with no one. The group I attended was a sanctuary from the lack of understanding and insensitivity I experienced from others in my life.” —Community Based Services participant

Emergency shelter and transitional housing have long been recognized as critically needed domestic violence services. However, there is a growing awareness that community based services and public education about domestic violence make a significant difference in the severity of abuse, and that early intervention and support is critical.

Recovering from an abusive relationship starts with recognizing that it is an abusive relationship and understanding the dynamics of the domestic violence cycle. Getting help with overcoming the barriers to leaving an abusive relationship can and does start in our Community Based Services. Bradley Angle was among the first domestic violence programs in Portland to recognize that a continuum of services is needed, and we remain committed to this model.

Support Groups

Bradley Angle’s Community Based Services program offers weekly support groups to help survivors who are living on their own in the community take active steps toward safety, self-care and positive family relationships. Some have recently left abusive partners and some are still living with batterers, and many have become isolated from friends and family.

In the support groups, participants can explore their feelings, find their will to survive and thrive, and learn how to make choices that support their own development and growth. Through consistent caring attention and sharing with others who have experienced similar types of relationships, each person has the opportunity to grow and practice new behaviors in support of themselves and their families. As participants understand how to care for themselves, they realize they do not have to live with controlling and violent relationships—that love is not expressed through violence.

To find out more information about joining a support group, call (503) 595-9591 ext. 305 or check our calendar of activities.

Support for Children and Youth

Support for children of adults participating in Community Based Services is available through Bradley Angle’s youth program. Our staff has expertise in working with youth impacted by domestic violence and trauma, child abuse and child development.

Advocacy without a Roof

With limited shelter space and housing options for survivors, it is crucial that individuals who need safety planning and case management have somewhere to turn. Community Based Services offers survivors the opportunity to meet with mobile advocates—advocates who can meet someone in their home, a coffee shop, or at Bradley Angle’s drop-in center. . Our LGBTQ services and our Economic Empowerment Programs are two focuses of the Community Based Services work.

If you or someone you know would like to speak with an advocate or find out more information, please call (503) 595-9591 ext. 5.

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