Community Solutions holds ‘Time to Stop Rape’ event to remind
residents of sexual assault awareness month
Community Solutions, a nonprofit dedicated to helping victims of
sexual assault and domestic violence, again sponsored the
”
Time to Stop Rape
”
flag event at the corner of Fourth and San Benito streets on
April 1.
The month of April is sexual assault awareness month and for the
last four years Community Solutions has sponsored the event that
draws attention to the cause. During the day residents stopped by
to make a flag with messages of support to victims of sexual
assault or words to discourage it.
Community Solutions holds ‘Time to Stop Rape’ event to remind residents of sexual assault awareness month
Community Solutions, a nonprofit dedicated to helping victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, again sponsored the “Time to Stop Rape” flag event at the corner of Fourth and San Benito streets on April 1.
The month of April is sexual assault awareness month and for the last four years Community Solutions has sponsored the event that draws attention to the cause. During the day residents stopped by to make a flag with messages of support to victims of sexual assault or words to discourage it.
“Today I’ve seen a lot of client support,” said Debbie Ruiz, a case manager for the Hollister office. “People drive by and want to put a flag down. They see the work we are doing.”
The nonprofit, which has offices in Gilroy and Morgan Hill, will sponsor a similar event in those cities as well.
Rosa Revuelta, the sexual assault and prevention services manager, said the office served 86 clients from San Benito County in the last fiscal year.
“We are only funded to serve 55,” she said, adding that it is the policy of staff not to turn away anyone who needs services.
The fiscal year runs from September to August, and Revuelta said the agency has served 40 clients with five months left to go.
“We’ve also seen an increase in the number of forensic exams,” she said. “We did nine last year and this year we are up to six, with half a year to go.”
Revuelta and Ruiz credited the increase in clients and the number of exams completed to the relationship the agency has with local law enforcement.
“Anyone by law has a right to have a sexual assault advocate,” Revuelta said. “And they (police officers and sheriff’s deputies) are very good at referring clients.”
Revuelta said the staff serves clients who have just reported an assault as well as those who haven’t reported it, or do not want to report it. They help victims of all ages, and she said anyone over age 12 can come to Community Solutions without parental permission. Children 11 and under must be accompanied by a guardian.
“We work with anyone, all free of charge,” she said.
Some of the services offered for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault include counseling, legal advocacy and court accompaniment. They also offer a 24-hour crisis line and self-defense classes.
The Hollister office has limited staff, but a has a devoted group of volunteers, some who helped watch over an information table at the Flag Day event.
“We are so busy, our volunteers are extending more time,” she said. “They are stepping up to the plate, seeing that funding is limited. We would never turn someone away. It’s not our philosophy.
Community Solutions 24-hour crisis line is 1-877-END-SADV (1-877-363-7328) for those in need of support. The Hollister office is located at 310 Fourth St., Ste. 105 and the staff there can be reached at 37-1094 during office hours. For more on the services, visit www.communitysolutions.org.
