Luna County Healing House renovation underway
DEMING – Hard work and dedication by staff at the Luna County Healing House has been the drive for the interior remodeling of the offices and living quarters. The Healing House is Luna County’s shelter for survivors of domestic violence,
The renovation of the facility is well underway and was made possible through funding received from the New Mexico Legislature in the form of Capital Outlay.
This renovation has been long overdue, according to Luna County government. The purpose of the county program is to help our clients escape domestic violence and to provide a safe and secure environment for them.
The ongoing goal is for clients to have a beneficial and healing experience during their stay at the Healing House. The impact staff is looking for under the renovation plan is for clients to gain that sense of security in a beautiful shelter to promote a stronger sense of well-being and to lessen the impact from the trauma of relocation they have endured.
In 2020, The Luna County Healing House provided shelter services for 75 adults and 55 children. During the onset of the renovations, the Friends of the Healing House were notified and without hesitation stepped in to cover the expenses to shelter our clients in hotels from May 9, 2021 to May 31, 2021.
Friends is a non-profit organization whose vision is for all families in Luna County to live free of domestic violence. They are instrumental in providing for the Healing House and bringing in other avenues of support for families escaping the grips of domestic violence.
Friends also supported by providing $5,000 for educational toys, activities, swing sets, bookshelves, and much more for clients and their children. The staff is extremely grateful for their generosity and continued support.
The mission statement at the Healing House is to provide comprehensive support and intervention services to people impacted by domestic violence by offering emergency shelter, protection order advocacy, counseling, immigration advocacy and education and training classes.
Domestic violence is categorized in three phases and is deeply associated with power and control These are the phases for the cycle of violence:
Phase 1
Tension building (The abusive partner can be increasingly irritable and angry and can engage in a level of abusive behavior; slapping, verbal and/or psychological abuse. the abused partner may become fearful and may try to make the abuser less angry or hostile in an attempt to defuse the situation to avoid an explosion. The victim may seek help from law enforcement only to be told that nothing can be done until violence occurs).
Phase 2
Explosion (the acute battering incident is a lashing out of physical, sexual or verbal abusive behavior. The explosion is usually the shortest phase and can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. This phase can lead to serious injury or death. The victim will do whatever she/he feels is necessary to survive, which may include seeking help from family, friends or law enforcement.
Phase 3
Calm period or honeymoon (the environment of the abusive relationship becomes tranquil and even pleasant. The batterer apologizes and promises to change. This may include gifts, promises to seek help, reminders of the good times in the relationship, etc. The victim may see the batterer as sincerely apologetic and see the violence as an aberration. This is usually the longest phase in the cycle, but may get progressively shorter with time. This is also the time when the victim seeks help, because of the window of calm and safety).
Victims of domestic abuse can be male or female and the nature of the abuse can be physical and mental. Once a victim enters the facility, they are provided guidance and given referrals during a 90-day stay.
Luna County has a clear message to domestic violence survivors – “You are not alone.”
October is recognized in Luna County as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
For more information please contact the Program Director of The Luna County Healing House Melissa Mata at [email protected].
Bill Armendariz can be reached at 575-546-2611 (leave a message) or [email protected].
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