BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — October isn’t just for Halloween, it is also a month to help victims of domestic violence.

Barren River Area Safe Space (BRASS), a Bowling Green nonprofit organization, helps victims by offering housing to those in need.

“Survivors stay with us to find that stability in their lives,” BRASS Inc. human resources director Hannah Hartley said. She added, “From there, we’re able to help them with rent and utilities, short term to the rest of their lives.”

The nonprofit is open to both men and women and keeps all resident information confidential.

Hartley stressed that having a confidential place to go was one of the most important parts of staying safe from domestic abuse. Hartley believes that the most dangerous part of domestic abuse is whenever a victim leaves the abusive situation.

She said when a victim leaves their situation; they need to go somewhere where the abusive partner cannot track them.

“The most dangerous time for a survivor is the act of fleeing, the act of literally gathering your items and going,” Hartley said. “And if you go to a friend’s house, they’ll know where to find you.”

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 45.3% of Kentucky women and 35.5% of Kentucky men experience intimate partner physical violence,Kentucky is also the 11th highest femicide rate in the nation. 

It’s imperative for victims to realize there are outlets to help, such as Brass Inc.

“No matter how small a burden may seem to you or I, any burden that we’re able to overcome and will be going to save people’s lives. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters,” Hartley said.

She added, “It’s important to have boundaries. These safe places where we’re following state and federal law, we’re making sure they’re fed, and we’re making sure they’re getting their basic needs without putting their friends into the line of fire.”