The VOICE 0f HOPE

10/18/2026

🎃💜 Pumpkins for Peace is about bringing our community together with kindness, laughter, and hope. Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered, or came out to support us at Peace House. Every act of generosity helps remind someone they are cared for and never alone. Together, we can plant seeds of peace and grow hope! 💜

10/15/2026

💜 We Honor You. We Remember You. We Stand With You.
By Tammy Englerth | The Voice of Hope

Today, we honor those whose lives were stolen by domestic violence. Behind every name is a person who had dreams, loved ones, and a future they deserved to live.

We remember those still missing—the unanswered questions, the families still searching, and the empty places no one else can fill. Their stories must remain visible.

We honor survivors carrying memories others cannot see. Surviving does not mean the pain disappears. You deserve support through every part of healing.

And to those still fighting to break free: we see you. We will not shame you for staying or judge how long it takes to find safety. You deserve to be believed, supported, and protected.

As a survivor, I carry this purpose into The Voice of Hope: to remember those we have lost, keep attention on those still missing, and stand beside those still fighting.

May our remembrance become action—and our compassion become support that reaches someone in time. 💜

10/15/2026

💜 WHEN THE APOLOGY ENDS, DOES THE ABUSE BEGIN AGAIN?
By Tammy Englerth | The Voice of Hope

Sometimes the hardest part of abuse is the hope that comes between the hurt.

The apology. The flowers. The gentle voice that says, “It will never happen again.” For someone who loves that person and wants to believe them, those moments can mean everything.

Then the criticism returns. The accusations begin. You find yourself choosing every word carefully, watching their expression, wondering which version of them will walk through the door.

Living that way is exhausting. No one should have to study another person’s mood to know whether they are safe.

Domestic violence can include humiliation, threats, sexual coercion, isolation, financial control, and physical harm. Someone may control your phone, your money, your friendships, or your ability to work. You do not need a visible injury for your experience to matter.

Some abusive relationships move through tension, abuse, apologies, and temporary calm. Others never offer an apology or a peaceful period. You do not have to recognize every stage to deserve help.

A quiet week does not erase what happened. A gift does not repair a threat. Lasting change requires accountability, respect for boundaries, and consistent behavior over time.

To the person reading this who keeps asking, “Am I overreacting?”—your fear deserves to be taken seriously.

You are not foolish for having hope. You are not weak for loving someone who has hurt you. You are not responsible for their decision to abuse you.

And you do not owe the world the most painful details of your life before you deserve compassion.

As a survivor, I know how much courage it can take to speak. That is part of why I founded The Voice of Hope: because people living through abuse deserve to be heard without shame and supported without judgment.

When someone trusts us with their story, our response matters. Listen. Believe them. Ask what support they need. Respect their choices. Keep showing up, even when their next step takes longer than you hoped.

Let us become a community where asking for help feels safer than staying silent.

To every victim and survivor: your life matters beyond what happened to you. You deserve safety, dignity, and room to heal at your own pace.

💜 The Voice of Hope
Your voice matters. Your safety matters. Your story is yours to tell.

10/15/2026

💜 BEHIND EVERY REQUEST FOR PROTECTION IS A PERSON WHO WANTS TO LIVE WITHOUT FEAR.
By Tammy Englerth | The Voice of Hope

Imagine being afraid to answer your phone—and afraid of what will happen if you don’t. Watching every word you say. Hearing someone threaten your life, then watching that same person smile in public.

Domestic violence does not always leave a bruise. Sometimes it leaves a person afraid to make an ordinary decision.

Recognize the signs. Abuse can include:

💜 Physical violence: Hitting, pushing, restraining, blocking exits, locking someone in a room, or strangulation.

💜 Emotional and verbal abuse: Humiliation, insults, constant accusations, intimidation, and making someone question their own memory or judgment.

💜 Isolation and control: Keeping someone from family, friends, work, transportation, or medical care.

💜 Financial abuse: Taking wages, withholding necessities, sabotaging employment, or creating debt in someone else’s name.

💜 Sexual and reproductive abuse: Forced sexual contact, pressure after someone says no, or interfering with contraception and pregnancy decisions.

💜 Digital abuse and stalking: Tracking someone’s location, demanding passwords, monitoring messages, or repeatedly showing up unwanted.

💜 Threats and coercion: Threatening children, pets, housing, immigration status, or using faith to demand obedience.

These are examples, not a complete checklist. Abuse centers on power and control. You do not have to experience every sign—or wait for physical injury—to deserve help.

AN AFFIDAVIT CAN PUT EXPERIENCES INTO THE COURT RECORD.

An affidavit is a written statement sworn to be true. It can describe what happened: threats, incidents, dates or approximate dates, witnesses, and the fear someone has experienced. In Illinois, a petition for an order of protection must be verified or accompanied by an affidavit. An affidavit alone does not create a protective order; a judge must issue the order.

Write truthfully and specifically. If you do not remember an exact date, say so. If it is safe, preserve threatening messages, photographs, and other records. No one should have to risk another assault to collect evidence.

AN ORDER OF PROTECTION IS A LEGAL TOOL THAT MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

Depending on the court’s terms, an Illinois order can prohibit abuse or contact, keep an abusive person away from certain places, and provide other protections. A domestic violence advocate can help with the forms and safety planning.

An order matters. So does what happens after it is issued. Survivors need accessible support, meaningful enforcement, and people who listen when they report continued threats.

Protection should never stop at paperwork.

As a community, we must stop asking, “Why didn’t you leave?” and start asking, “What do you need to be safer, and how can we help?”

Listen without blame. Offer support without taking control. Remember that someone can sound calm, go to work, or smile for a picture while living in fear.

To anyone experiencing abuse: You do not owe anyone another chance to hurt you. Your fear deserves attention. Your voice deserves respect. Your life deserves protection.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911 when it is safe to do so.

💜 Awareness means recognizing the signs. Action means standing beside the person living through them.

10/12/2026

10/12/2026

WHY ARE VICTIMS AFRAID TO REPORT? BECAUSE SPEAKING UP SHOULD NOT COST THEM THEIR SAFETY.
By Tammy Englerth

“Why didn’t you report it?”

Before we ask that question, we need to ask something harder: What happens to a victim after they do?

Who protects them when the abuser finds out? Where can they sleep that night? Who helps protect their children? How do they keep working when they are being threatened, followed, or harassed?

Reporting takes more than courage. It takes somewhere safe to land.

For someone living with domestic violence, fear can shape every decision. An abuser may threaten to hurt them, take their children, destroy their reputation, or harm someone they love. They may control the money, transportation, phone, and access to help.

A victim may be thinking: If I speak, will anyone believe me? If nobody helps, what will happen when I go home?

Others fear judgment. They worry that people will question why they stayed, why they returned, or why they still have feelings for the person hurting them. Some have already asked for help and felt dismissed. Being unheard once can make asking again feel impossible.

Silence does not mean nothing happened. It may mean someone is trying to survive what happens next.

We cannot keep telling victims to speak up while leaving them to carry every consequence alone. Awareness must lead to changes people can feel in their lives.

We need a response that begins with respect. Police, hospitals, courts, workplaces, and community organizations need training to recognize threats, stalking, isolation, financial control, and abuse that leaves no visible bruise. Listen without humiliation. Ask what the person needs to feel safe.

We need protection that continues after the report. Taking a statement should begin a coordinated response, with a clear contact person, timely follow-up, and attention to new threats. A victim should not have to explain their trauma repeatedly just to find out who can help.

We need practical support. Safe housing, transportation, childcare, emergency financial assistance, and accessible advocacy can make seeking help possible. A person should not have to choose between enduring abuse and having nowhere to take their children.

We need safer, more private ways to ask for help. Services should offer options for people whose phones, movements, or conversations are monitored. Ask when and how it is safe to contact them. Explain confidentiality and its limits before they disclose sensitive information.

We need accountability for retaliation. Threats and harassment after someone seeks help must be taken seriously. Telling a victim to report again without addressing the danger leaves them facing the same fear.

We need to respect the victim’s voice. Explain options clearly. Include them in decisions about their safety. Support should help restore the control abuse has taken away.

And we need communities willing to stop asking, “Why did you stay?” and start asking, “What made leaving or reporting feel impossible—and how can we help change that?”

These changes require resources, training, and people willing to follow through. Compassion must be present in the response, not just in an awareness slogan.

A victim deserves to be heard before tragedy makes everyone listen.

If we want more people to report abuse, we must build a response they can trust—and make sure asking for help leads to meaningful help.

💜 The Voice of Hope

10/11/2026

Beyond the Paper: What Does Real Protection for a Victim Look Like?
By Tammy Englerth

A victim signs an affidavit. They ask for an order of protection. They tell someone they are afraid.

Then they go home—and the fear goes with them.

An affidavit documents a sworn account. An order of protection can establish enforceable legal restrictions. Both can matter deeply. But neither can physically stand between a victim and someone determined to hurt them. Legal protection needs practical support behind it.

We should stop treating the paperwork as the finish line.

What could we do better?

Connect victims with an advocate immediately. Someone who can explain options, help navigate court, find resources, and develop a personalized safety plan. Protection must account for the victim’s circumstances—whether they are staying, preparing to leave, or have already left.

Make safety financially possible. We should expand emergency housing, transportation, childcare, and assistance with basic needs. Telling someone to leave means little if they have nowhere safe to sleep with their children.

Respond to threats before another assault happens. Reports of stalking, repeated unwanted contact, escalating threats, and protection-order violations deserve prompt attention and appropriate investigation. A victim should not have to suffer another injury before their fear is taken seriously.

Bring services together without taking control away from the survivor. Police, courts, hospitals, shelters, and advocates should have clear ways to coordinate, protect confidentiality, and explain what happens next. The Department of Justice supports coordinated responses that combine victim services with offender accountability.

Include digital safety. A safety plan should consider phone tracking, shared accounts, location settings, and technology used to stalk or intimidate. Survivors need knowledgeable help that considers whether a change could alert the abuser.

Follow up through a safe method the victim chooses. We should ask: Can you safely receive a call? Do you have somewhere to go tonight? Have the threats continued? What help do you need now?

No document, device, or program can guarantee safety. But we can demand a system that puts meaningful action behind its promises.

Stop asking only, “Did you file the paperwork?”

Start asking, “What are we doing to help you stay safe?”

A victim deserves more than a case number. They deserve to be heard, supported, and protected by people who follow through.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential domestic violence support, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or visit TheHotline.org, using a safer device if yours may be monitored.

10/11/2026

AWARENESS MUST BECOME ACTION
By Tammy Englerth | The Voice of Hope 💜

A survivor may walk into a hospital, stop at a gas station, visit a pharmacy, or call the police. That moment could be an opportunity to reach safety—if someone knows how to recognize the signs and respond.

Domestic violence awareness must reach every place where someone might ask for help.

I am asking lawmakers, healthcare leaders, police departments, businesses, advocates, and survivors to come together around a proposed Voice of Hope Community Safety and Domestic Violence Awareness Act.

This is a call to create new protections and strengthen existing ones. The names below are proposals, not laws I am claiming are already in place.

💜 Domestic Violence Recognition and Response Act: Fund regular training to recognize threats, isolation, financial control, stalking, and trauma—even when there are no visible bruises.

💜 Survivor-Centered Police Response Act: Strengthen private interviews, documentation, danger assessments, and access to advocates. A frightened survivor deserves to be heard with care.

💜 Hospital Safe Disclosure and Advocacy Act: Give patients a chance to speak privately, connect with an advocate, and choose a safe way to receive follow-up information.

💜 Safe Places in Everyday Spaces Act: Help stores, pharmacies, hotels, salons, libraries, and gas stations offer trained staff, a private space, and a safe connection to help.

💜 Resource Access and Survivor Privacy Acts: Make help information accessible while protecting survivors from messages, calls, or records that could expose them to an abuser.

💜 Response Accountability and Survivor-Led Prevention Acts: Create meaningful review when systems fail, and pay survivors and qualified advocates to help shape better responses.

We must also fund the development and careful testing of technology that could make asking for help easier: a discreet help option at checkout, safer medical communication systems, survivor-controlled evidence storage, optional silent assistance devices, and tools to identify digital stalking.

Some pieces of this technology may already exist. We need to bring useful ideas together, improve them, and develop what is still missing—with privacy, survivor choice, and trained human support at the center.

A poster can raise awareness. A trained person, a private conversation, and a funded response can turn that awareness into help.

This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let’s ask for more than recognition. Let’s ask for coordinated action—with clear responsibilities, funding, and accountability.

Who will help us bring police, hospitals, businesses, technology developers, and survivors to the same table?

Share this. Start the conversation. Ask your elected officials to help build it.

10/11/2026

WHEN CALLING FOR HELP FEELS DANGEROUS By Tammy Englerth | The Voice of Hope.

“Why didn’t you call the police?”
Before asking a domestic violence survivor that question, consider what making that call might mean.
An abuser may have threatened: “Tell anyone, and you’ll regret it.” A victim may fear retaliation, losing financial support, or being blamed instead of helped. Silence can become a way of surviving the next hour, the next night, the next threat.
Being afraid to report does not make the abuse less real.
Some survivors fear that police will not believe them or that reporting will leave them less safe. Language barriers and fears about immigration can create additional obstacles. Those fears deserve to be heard, not dismissed.
Imagine gathering the courage to tell a stranger about the most terrifying moments of your life—and worrying that your abuser will sound more convincing than you.
A survivor may be crying, shaking, angry, or struggling to explain. An abuser may appear calm and charming. Police and courts need to look beyond appearances and carefully investigate the history of threats, intimidation, and control.
Laws matter. So does what happens when a frightened person tries to use them. A law on paper cannot answer every urgent question: Where will I sleep tonight? Who will help protect my children? What happens after the officer leaves?
There are officers who listen with compassion and help survivors find protection and support. Every victim deserves that care. The National Domestic Violence Hotline identifies validation, referrals, and help accessing protective orders as practices survivors have found helpful.
We need police training that recognizes abuse and trauma. We need clear explanations of legal options, meaningful follow-through, access to advocates, and practical help with housing and safety.
Reporting should open a door to protection. Survivors should never have to earn compassion by telling their story perfectly.
Stop asking, “Why did you wait?”
Start asking, “What made it unsafe to speak—and what can we do to help you now?”
To anyone who has stayed silent out of fear: You did not cause the abuse. You deserve support whether you have reported or not.
This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let’s do more than wear purple. Let’s listen, challenge victim blaming, and demand systems that respond with care and accountability.
A survivor’s voice deserves to be heard before it becomes a memorial.
💜 The Voice of Hope