By Gari Voss
October is domestic violence awareness month. The color is purple and is associated with the fight to end domestic violence. The Allegan City Hall staff including the City Police have joined a county-wide effort to bring awareness to this serious issue by when they donned various shades of purple on October 2nd.
On October 9, 2025, Sylvia’s Place held their annual Fall Festival fundraiser at The Silo in Allegan. Over 200 supporters gathered to enjoy wonderful appetizers, bid on Silent Auction items, purchase raffle tickets for the Detroit Lion Package worth over $2000, play games, and enjoy the music of Kitten and the Tonics. A hearty congratulations goes to one extremely lucky Erin Koenigsknecht won the Lions Tailgate Package.
Ryan Sabatke kept the evening moving until the highlight of the evening arrived when Sally Ashley was presented with the Hart’s Heart Award. Sally has been with Sylvia’s Place since 1998, almost since its opening in 1996. She covers the weekday night shift (midnight to 8am) Mondays thru Fridays, and to everyone’s recollection has never missed a day. At 8am, Sally often volunteers at main office because she loves the mission and work. Bottom, Sally Ashley puts her whole heart into meeting the needs of the adults and children who so desperately seek assistance.
“Sally Ashley, Resident Advocate for 27 years, is as dedicated as they come,” stated Executive Director Heather Forrest. “She puts in countless hours of commitment to the agency, the survivors, and her teammates as an advocate and volunteer. In addition to her endless dedication to Sylvia’s Place, Sally’s compassion and the genuine care she shows for every woman and child who has entered our shelter have left lasting impressions on countless lives over the past 28 years. Her presence has been a source of comfort, stability, and hope for so many who needed it most.”
Sylvia’s Place is Allegan County’s only domestic violence shelter. Since opening in 1996, women have come alone or with their children to escape situations where there is willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior that demonstrates a pattern of power and control.
Statistics from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, the organization has taken 1,491 Hotline calls and 436 crisis calls resulting in shelter intakes. 91 clients have been given shelter with 3,116 bed nights provided at the residential facility. During that time, 126 clients received nonresidential assistance from Sylvia’s Place Victim Legal Advocate for such things as gas cards, personal protection order (PPO) assistance, and packets for domestic violence education.
Looking at the broader picture since its inception, Sylvia’s Place has provided 90,819 safe bed nights, served 3,734 shelter clients, and supported 5,369 nonresidential clients.
Data records numbers and demonstrates the severity of domestic violence in Allegan County. Opportunities for change rely on people. As with other non-profits, Sylvia’s Place relies on volunteers. An example, during 2022-2023, 43 volunteers donated 466 hours assisting clients plus assisting with 30 outreach events.
According to national statistics, 1 in every 3 women suffers severe physical violence from an intimate partner, and this is true of 1 in every 4 men. This is most common with women between the ages of 18 and 24. 1 in every 7 women and 1 in every 18 men have been stalked while 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been physically abused by an intimate partner. These situations often lead to degrees of bodily harm with 72% of all murder-suicides involving intimate partners, and 94% of those murdered being females because the presence of a gun increases the risk of homicide by 500%.
In Allegan County, domestic violence data described 964 victims who filed instances in 2021. One had reported broken bones, 276 reported minor injuries, 533 did not report physical injury but suffered psychological or emotional abuse, one had other minor injuries, three had possible internal injuries, two suffered severe lacerations, two lost consciousness, and 145 had unknown injuries. These are only the reported instances. Across the county, there are hundreds more who do not report their fears for one reason or another. Only 34% of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries.
Sylvia’s Place is a response to the death of Sylvia Allen who was murdered in 1989 when attempting to move out of an abusive situation. The residence offers can accommodate six families, while working with non-residential victims who are residing elsewhere.
What is important to remember is that domestic abuse does not usually begin with physical altercations. There is often psychological or emotional abuse that can be name calling, humiliation, undermining, isolation or gaslighting. It can also be digital with verbal harassment using technology, stalking using social media, or tracking a person using phones or other technology.
Physical abuse can present itself as hair pulling, punching, slapping, burning, kicking, biting, strangulation, weapons, refusing to allow food or sleep, or forcing the use of drugs or alcohol. In addition, there is sexual abuse that can end in forceful sex.
Pulling away from abusive situations can be extremely difficult if the victim is kept from having a source of income, is harassed at work, forced to make credit transactions, or prevented from accessing financial resources.
Those working in domestic violence safe houses realize that leaving an abusive environment is not simple. A victim may convince themself that they love the abuser, or they are too embarrassed or ashamed of themself. Often, a victim does not have the resources to leave or do not have a safe place to go. Others stay to keep their family together. When self esteem falls, the victim may feel that they deserve the abuse.
The support staff at Sylvia’s Place work with each caller and person that arrives at their doors. Finding a safe place to escape takes planning. This includes keeping important documents and some emergency money in the victim’s possession at all times and knowing the schedules of children.
The National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence shared, “An important reminder is that domestic violence is prevalent in every community and affects all people regardless of age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime.”
If you or someone you know has questions about domestic violence or needs help or resources, please contact a local agency such as Sylvia’s Place 1-888-411-7837 or 269-673-8700 (24 hour service), or Resilience at 1-800-848-5991 or 1-616-392-1970 (24 hour service). Any contact with these agencies is confidential and free.
“Sylvia’s Place’s nonresidential program will be moving from the office location on Grand St to the current facility on North Street,” shared Forrest. “Our programs will now be operated all under the same roof. Our shelter facility location has been undisclosed since inception; however its location is not very private considering the small town and how long it has been here. Many people are already very familiar with the location, so maintaining safety and security and ensuring those measurements are in place are top priority regardless of location.”
There are benefits to securing the operations in one building. Forrest explained. “First, there is easier access for victims in crisis. Survivors can find the shelter quickly through online searches, community referrals, or law enforcement without needing to go through multiple screening calls. This reduces barriers for those who need immediate, walk-in help.”
Forrest continued, “There is stronger community awareness and engagement. Public visibility helps educate the community about domestic violence and available resources. This encourages partnerships with local agencies, schools, and businesses and makes it easier to host outreach events, fundraisers, and volunteer programs.”
Another plus for Forrest and the staff, “[The single location] improves coordination with Law Enforcement and Social Services. Police, courts, and hospitals can directly refer survivors, saving critical time during crises. And this allows for faster collaboration in emergency situations.”
Those who missed the fun and friendly competition of the Fall Festival can still make donations by going to https://sylviasplace.com/. The staff invites all requesting assistance and support to contact them ASAP at 1-888-411-7837 or 269-673-8700 (24 hour service).
