Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services outlines expanded shelter, new transitional housing and asks community for support

At a meeting of the Oshkosh City Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, leaders of Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services described expanded services at a new facility and appealed to residents for financial support, volunteers and referrals.

The agency — identified in the meeting as Christine Ann (also referred to as KDASIA) — said its main office and 24/7 emergency shelter have relocated to 240 Algoma Boulevard adjacent to City Hall and that the shelter’s capacity increased from 37 to 64 beds. "Our shelter and helpline is staffed 24/7, 365 days a year," Eden Prothro said during the presentation.

Why it matters: committee members were briefed on local domestic-violence response capacity, new transitional housing that could reduce barriers for survivors and concrete ways citizens can help.

Christine Ann outlined programs that include a 24/7 helpline, youth-prevention education in local school districts, one-on-one adult advocacy, legal advocacy and community education. The presenters said the agency is expanding to accept pets — a change intended to remove a barrier some survivors face when considering shelter — and highlighted a new transitional-housing program of 11 apartments intended for people who need support for six months up to two years while they work toward greater independence.

Presenters described common tactics of domestic abuse — isolation, technology/social abuse, emotional and economic control, use of children and pets, intimidation, and gaslighting — and emphasized that abuse is about power and control rather than a single cause. They noted leaving is often dangerous and may take multiple attempts; the agency’s speakers said survivors on average leave an abusive relationship seven times before permanently leaving.

Speakers also cited risk factors that raise the threat to survivors, including the presence of firearms and prior strangulation. The presenters gave statewide and county statistics during the talk: they stated that 85 people in Wisconsin died due to domestic violence in 2023 and that three individuals from Winnebago County died that year. These statistics were presented as spoken figures in the meeting.

On services and access, Christine Ann said most initial assessments are conducted by phone and that the person experiencing abuse must be the one to speak for safety and privacy reasons; friends and family may call for guidance and the agency offers a "friends and family" packet to support outreach.

The agency requested community help through monetary and in-kind donations, volunteering and social-media amplification. Presenters said they maintain an updated wish list on their website and asked volunteers to take a range of tasks from maintenance to administrative support. For immediate assistance the agency provided a helpline number during the meeting: (920) 235-5998.

Funding: presenters described a capital campaign tied to the facility move and expansion. During the meeting they said the campaign goal was "$6,800,000" and later gave a different figure described as what remains to raise; those two figures as spoken in the meeting are inconsistent in the transcript and could not be reconciled from the discussion. The agency said it will launch the new transitional housing program in November and had hired staff to support it.

Quote: "We're at 240 Algoma Boulevard now," Prothro said, describing the new, larger location next to City Hall. "So our shelter and helpline is staffed 24/7, 365 days a year." Alicia Wenger identified herself as the agency's executive director and described the new program and its staff.

Next steps: committee members received brochures and outreach materials; members were invited to share the agency’s resources with community networks and to attend the public budget and hearing processes if they wish to support funding priorities for local services.