Hope’s Wings: A Beacon of Safety for Domestic Violence Survivors in Madison County – Jennifer Lainhart

In this powerful episode of Spilling the Title Tea, Ashley Ramsey sits down with Jennifer Lainhart, Executive Director of Hope’s Wings, a grassroots nonprofit organization serving domestic violence survivors in Richmond, Kentucky.

Hope’s Wings provides more than just emergency shelter – they offer a comprehensive three-phase program designed to help survivors achieve true independence. From crisis intervention to job training and transitional housing, their holistic approach has achieved an impressive 72% success rate for participants who complete all three phases.

Jennifer shares the organization’s inspiring origin story, born from a community effort by First Christian Church in 2005, and explains how they’ve evolved from a “band-aid station” to a Blueprint for Safety community – one of the only ones in Kentucky. She discusses the challenges of serving a population where 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience domestic violence, and how Hope’s Wings works to break the cycle of abuse through education, empowerment, and practical support.

Listeners will learn about the organization’s unique approach to shelter design, ensuring families have private spaces while maintaining community support, and how they partner with local law enforcement and landlords to create a comprehensive safety net.

Episode Highlights:

• 00:51 – The Birth of Hope’s Wings: Jennifer explains how Hope’s Wings was created by the Madison County community in 2005, starting as a grassroots effort from First Christian Church
• 01:17 – Serving the “Choosing Homeless” Population: “We serve a homeless population that are choosing homelessness because their own homes aren’t safe to live in”
• 02:04 – Staggering Statistics: The reality that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience domestic violence, affecting a third of the nation’s children
• 04:47 – The Three-Phase Program Explained: Jennifer breaks down the comprehensive approach from crisis intervention to empowerment to transitional housing
• 08:25 – How to Access Help: The simple process starts with a phone call to their 24/7 crisis line at 859-623-4095
• 11:49 – Family-Focused Shelter Design: Why Hope’s Wings provides private bedrooms for families instead of shared spaces
• 14:53 – Impressive Success Rate: 72% success rate for participants who complete all three phases of the program
• 16:15 – Learning from Early Mistakes: Jennifer’s candid story about a family who returned to their abuser due to lack of comprehensive support in the early days
• 19:53 – Blueprint for Safety Community: Hope’s Wings’ role in creating community-wide policies for addressing domestic violence through evidence-based prosecution
• 20:28 – How the Community Can Help: Practical ways to support through donations, supply drives, and volunteer opportunities
• 22:02 – Respectful Volunteering: Why Hope’s Wings focuses on behind-the-scenes volunteer work to preserve residents’ dignity
• 24:39 – Jennifer’s Advice: “Call us when you have a moment and it’s safe for you to do so. There’s no pressure… but we’ll listen to you.”

Links

Hope’s Wings – Domestic Violence Program

Facebook

24/7 Crisis Line: 859-623-4095

Email: info@hopeswings.org