Helping People Survive, Rebuild, & Overcome.
About Us
Our Home Family Resource Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization helping Mercer County individuals and families survive, rebuild, & overcome. Our Home has been serving Mercer County for over 25 years, comprised of 3 distinct programs; Family Crisis Network, RAFT Supervised Visitation Center, and Direct Services & Referrals.
Our Home's Family Crisis Network offers a 24-hour helpline, emergency safe shelter, and advocacy for domestic violence and/or sexual assault victims. They help victims survive their trauma & build a life free from abuse.
Our Home's RAFT Supervised Visitation Center monitors visits for children & their non-custodial parents, offering non-custodial parties the opportunity to rebuild relationships with their children in a comfortable, safe, & homelike environment.
Our Home's Direct Services & Referrals Program offers financial assistance and a food pantry for income-eligible residents. It provides information, resources, & advice to overcome food insecurity & financial shortfalls.
Our Home also coordinates special county-wide projects, including; Mercer County Back to School Program, Mercer County Winter Warmth Program, and the Mercer County Angel Tree Program.
- The Mercer County Back to School Program is a school supply drive to help children with the necessities for the first day of school.
- The Mercer County Winter Warmth Program is a drive for winter coats, hats, and gloves to be distributed on Winter Warmth Day to children and adults in need.
- The Mercer County Angel Tree Program provides clothes and toys to children of families facing financial shortfalls.
In an average year: Our Home receives 1,072 calls on our domestic violence/sexual assault 24-hour crisis helpline, has 1210 bednights in our shelter for victims, and 430 survivors receive emotional support and criminal justice assistance. We host 366 family visits and provide over 710 hours of safe, supervised family interaction. Our Home has 1,264 visits to our food pantry and helps 118 households avoid utility disconnection.
Family Crisis Network
Our Home's Family Crisis Network helps victims of domestic violence & sexual assault survive their trauma & build a life free from abuse through education and advocacy.
All Services are free & confidential. Services include a 24-hour crisis helpline, safety planning and case management, emergency safe shelter for victims & their children, assistance with protection orders, courtroom advocacy, and ongoing support.
If you are in danger, call 911. Otherwise, call or text our 24/7 Crisis Helpline at (419) 586-1133 to speak with Family Crisis Network Staff. We will discuss your situation, evaluate your options, and assist in setting goals that support your decisions.
Family Crisis Network Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 12 PM & 1 - 4:30 PM
You can also try our web chat feature during office hours.
Domestic Violence is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person. It may involve physical aggression (hitting, kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, throwing objects, or the threat of such action), sexual abuse, emotional abuse, intimidation, stalking, neglect, or financial control. Victims and abusers can be women or men, married or unmarried, of any age, race, socio-economic status, or sexual orientation.
Not all domestic violence behaviors are considered criminal, but they are still wrong. Every person has the right to a life free of abusive, controlling behaviors. You have the right to leave your relationship, even if the abuse has not become physical.
Sexual assault is any involuntary sexual act in which a person is coerced or forced to engage against their will. Sexual assault is a form of violence, including rape, groping, forced kissing, child sexual abuse, or torture of the person in a sexual manner.
Additional Resources:
Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc. – www.legalaidline.lawolaw.org
Ohio Domestic Violence Network – www.odvn.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline – www.ndvh.org
Teen Dating Violence – www.loveisrespect.org
Raft Supervised Visitation Center
Helping Children Rebuild Relationships Call (419) 586-4663 Option 4 for Assistance. Mercer County residency is not required. Court orders are not required. RAFT Visitation Center Hours are Monday-Saturday by Appointment only. Call for scheduling & pricing information.
Services:
Our Home’s RAFT Supervised Visitation Center offers non-custodial parties the opportunity to rebuild relationships with their children in a safe home-like environment in situations such as Court Orders, Custody Agreements, Grandparent Visitations, Divorces or Separations, Emergency Custody Situations, and Protection Orders (We can make this a bullet point list? Caps???) Visits follow a parenting plan or legal agreement. All visits and exchanges are monitored by trained staff and by unobtrusive video monitoring. RAFT receives training and is a member of the Supervised Visitation Network.
The Center has two large living-room-type spaces with couches, toys, and tables for games, crafts, or homework, as well as a kitchen area for simple meals. This safe yet homey environment is conducive for children who have experienced or witnessed trauma, such as violence, abuse, abduction, threats, or inappropriate behaviors. Visitation services allow children to begin or rebuild relationships with non-custodial parents. Bonding with parents is essential to child development, and sometimes it is in a child’s best interest that such interaction is resumed or initiated in a supervised, supportive atmosphere.
Most clients of RAFT reside in Mercer County, but services are open to all, regardless of where they live. The income-based fee for visitation services follows a sliding scale. We aim to keep the costs low so that services are affordable. Services do not have to be court-ordered. You may use our services to work out difficult situations such as custody issues, protection orders, divorces, abuse investigations, etc. RAFT is available by appointment only. Court-ordered days and times will be followed as much as possible, but previous bookings, scheduling conflicts, and staffing requirements may necessitate a change.
Direct Services & Referrals
Our Home’s Direct Services & Referrals program provides information, resources, & advice to Mercer County Residents to help people overcome financial shortfalls & budget constraints. Our purpose is to help Mercer County residents “bridge the gap” and receive support during times of need.
We provide Emergency Financial Assistance for matters like Utility Shutoffs, Rental Evictions, Medical Expenses & Prescriptions, etc. We also offer referrals to other agencies. Call (419) 586-4663 Option 2 for Assistance, Monday-Thursday.
Our Home’s Food Pantry is available for Mercer County Residents who qualify under the USDA Federal and State guidelines by providing proof of residency and picture identification. Our Food Pantry is stocked with canned fruits and vegetables, meat, pasta, soup, and other items. We also have limited availability of personal care items (deodorant, shampoo, etc.), laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, baby diapers & wipes offered during Food Pantry Hours.
Food Pantry Hours: Walk-in Tuesday or Thursday 9:30 AM - 12 PM & 1 - 3 PM
If you have questions about Direct Services & Referrals, call (419) 586-4663 Option 2 for assistance.