Survivors fear closure of Elizabethtown domestic violence shelter could cost lives

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Survivors of domestic violence in central Kentucky said the closure of a longtime Elizabethtown shelter could put future victims in even greater danger.

Tucked behind a gate in Elizabethtown is a place that changed Ivie Lally's life.

"It was really the only safety that we had," Lally said.

Lally said she was 16 when she, her mother and her sister escaped an abusive home in 2014. They found safety at SpringHaven, a domestic violence shelter that served as a refuge during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

"It really felt more like home living there than my actual home ever did," Lally said.

Mariesha Stone said she turned to the same shelter for help years later. In 2018, Stone said she was being abused by her son’s father and felt hopeless.

"When I went in, I had no hope," Stone said.

Stone said other shelters were far from home, but SpringHaven was close and able to take her in immediately. And when they did, she said the shelter provided more than just a place to sleep.

"They did everything," she said. "We had community group meetings. We did one-on-one support groups. They took the kids out for support groups. They learned all the red flag signs."

Now, both women are devastated knowing that option soon will no longer exist for others trying to escape abuse.

SpringHaven announced in a letter that after 40 years, it will close its doors on June 30. The change comes amid "financial instability," according to a news release.

"I almost want to cry at the fact that is going to be taken away from other people who are in the same situation," Lally said.

The shelter is one of 15 state-certified domestic violence shelters in Kentucky and serves as the primary shelter for the Heartland region, covering Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson and Washington counties.

Once the shelter closes, survivors from those counties will be referred to shelters farther from home.

"I understand there are other ones to go to, but how are they going to get there if they're running from a domestic violence situation?" Stone said.

Stone said many victims leave with little more than the clothes they are wearing.

"If they don’t have transportation, how can they get there?" she said. "...They’ve gotta bring their kids, or they’ve just gotta to run. When you’re leaving, most people are leaving everything behind. You have to start all the way over."

The shelter is primarily funded through grants, including funding distributed by ZeroV, Kentucky’s statewide coalition against domestic violence. ZeroV receives state funding and contracts with shelters across the commonwealth.

ZeroV did not immediately respond to questions about why it chose not to renew its contract with SpringHaven, but the organization said it is working with the shelter during the transition to maintain services for current clients and reduce disruptions.

"Local communities can rest assured that survivors will continue to have access to essential domestic violence services through ZeroV member programs in neighboring area development districts," a spokesperson said in a news release.

Samara Heavrin, who represents Grayson and Hardin counties in the Kentucky house, said in a Facebook post that the closure is not the result of state or federal funding cuts.

Domestic violence remains a widespread issue in Kentucky. Nearly half of Kentucky women and about one-third of Kentucky men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime — rates higher than the national average.

An FBI study also found law enforcement agencies reported more than 11,000 domestic violence homicide victims nationwide between 2020 and 2024.

Lally fears the closure will leave women and children with fewer opportunities to escape dangerous situations.

"Honestly, I think that there may be a lot more deaths," Lally said.

For those experiencing domestic violence and seeking help, resources remain available in both Kentucky and southern Indiana.

The Center for Women and Families operates a 24-hour crisis line for both of its locations. Louisville Metro Police Department also offers a 24-hour crisis line staffed by certified domestic violence counselors trained to provide crisis counseling, support and information for people experiencing abuse.