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One woman who is staying in the shelter is 42-year-old Rita. She is the mother of two kids and for 23 years, she said she endured abuse at the hands of her husband. Eventually she said her daughter started to abuse her as well.
"'You're ugly, you're a liar, and you're stupid.' That's what he would say," explained Rita. "He made me believe that I was being punished for being bad."
Rita said her husband was addicted to drugs and would control everything, from the finances to when she was allowed to eat. Sometimes, she wouldn't even eat at all.
"I felt like a worthless piece of trash. Worthless piece of trash," she said, her voice cracking. "I was so desperate and so sad that I wanted to die. I just wanted it over. I didn't want to fight anymore. Every day was a struggle for me."
Rita's story is all too familiar for Kristi Doukas, victim advocate at the House of Hope.
"It's a much bigger problem then people think. I think if you are living in a neighborhood where there's 500 people, I think there are at least one or two people that are experiencing severe abuse... and you don't even know it," explained Doukas.
Rita didn't tell many people about her abuse, because she was afraid of her husband and she was afraid of what others might think.
"It's embarrassing. It's embarrassing and humiliating. You don't want people to know that you are treated in such a way," she said, shaking her head.
When she did reach out to some friends, they wouldn't help her.
"Some people don't want to know because they don't care and because they don't want to get involved. Their life is perfect and sweet and nice just the way it is. And they don't want anything messing it up," detailed Rita.
However when she broke down and told another friend about her situation, she was given the hotline number to the House of Hope.
"We've had several here that were in horrendous abusive situations and when they came in it did seem hopeless," explained Doukas. "We had a lady not too long ago that had been held captive by the person that she loved. For several days she was tortured, beaten, and sexual assaulted."
In 2010, staff members at the House of Hope devoted 160 hours to crisis intervention, getting victims into a safe and secure place away from their abusers. At the shelter, the hope is women who previously felt powerless begin to get their lives back.
"Every day that they are here, it seems easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel," said Doukas.
Rita left her home just more than a week ago. Now, she is already looking forward to graduating at the top of her class from cosmetology school and starting a new life filled with happiness, not fear.
"After all of that darkness, here I am. I have a meatloaf in the oven. You know, I'm doing laundry. I'm going to school tomorrow, I'm excited," said Rita with a smile. "I'm important, I'm special and I deserve happiness. And I will get happiness."
The House of Hope serves the abused in Polk, Dallas, Dade, Cedar, and Hickory counties. If you know someone who is being hurt, please urge them to call the hotline at (417) 399-6744.
"You can leave, you can get out. Life is not like that," said Rita. "Life is supposed to be great and fun and nice and peaceful. And wonderful with people that truly love you and care for you and really want the best for you. And will only give you the best. It's not worth it."
