I was saddened this week to hear that Harriet’s House, a shelter in Demopolis for domestic violence victims has closed due to lack of funding.

During my time in Marengo County, I covered several stories concerning the shelter and actually toured the house during a visit from Alabama First Lady Dianne Bentley.

I was able to meet the staff and several of the families staying there at the time.

I actually got to know the director Susanna Naisbett well. She worked tirelessly for the women and children at the shelter, logging long hours and offering to give up any salary or pay.

The staff and volunteers at Harriet’s House were just as dedicated. Some of them had been victims of domestic violence in the past and wanted to reach out and try to help people in similar situations today.

The shelter, like others across the state, depends on grants and generosity from the community to operate. It’s sad that there wasn’t enough to support to keep it open.

However, with the closing comes new challenges and opportunities for The Selma and Blackbelt Regional Abuse Sanctuary.

The nonprofit organization already serves victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Dallas, Perry and Wilcox counties. S.A.B.R.A. will now add Marengo, Choctaw and Clark counties to the area it serves.

It’s a blessing that S.A.B.R.A. will step up and reach out to these women and children. Executive director Nancy Travis and everyone who supports S.A.B.R.A. should be commended for the work they do to fight a never-ending problem in society.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. It’s estimated that 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year, and young women, between the ages of 20-24, are at the greatest risk.

The abuse impacts children too. Witnessing violence between one’s parents is the strongest risk factor of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next. Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults, according to the NCDV.

Domestic violence is a hard-cycle for anyone to break out of; nonprofits like S.A.B.R.A. and Harriet’s House are a lifeline providing victims with a safe place to sleep, food, clothing and other resources to help them get on their feet.

The shelters sometimes keep a low profile for safety reasons, but we should be vigilant in doing everything to support them. Otherwise, the valuable services they provide people in times of great need may not be there someday.

Victims of domestic violence in need of help should call the 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-650-6522. The number for S.A.B.R.A. is 874-8711.