News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz From left to right, Michelle Styma, Jeanine Kaltz, and Jana Shupert stand in the Hope Shores Alliance Alpena office on Tuesday. Resources, such as baby food, blankets, cleaning supplies, and more, are available to those in need.

ALPENA — Hope Shores Alliance, an Alpena non-profit organization that supports victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence, says that to end violence in the community, victims have to be supported.

Jana Shupert, Hope Shores Alliance sexual assault forensic examiner (SAFE) coordinator, explained that IPV — as well as sexual violence, dating violence, stalking, and human trafficking — can affect an individual’s mental, physical, and emotional health. Therefore, the organization is committed to providing services to support a “path of healing.”

“Hope Shores Alliance is always confidential, voluntary, and survivor-driven to achieve their individual goals and move forward on the path of healing,” Shupert said. “We are here to believe, support, and validate individuals … Hope Shores Alliance has knowledgeable staff to help connect survivors to resources, regardless of the time frame of their survivorship.”

Shupert shared statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey with The News, indicating that IPV and sexual violence are common across the nation.

According to the CDC, about 41% of women and 26% of men experienced contact sexual violence or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Further, over 61 million women and 53 million men have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

“IPV starts early and continues through people’s lives,” Shupert said, referencing CDC reports. “When IPV occurs in adolescence, it is called teen dating violence. About 16 million women and 11 million men who reported experiencing intimate partner violence in their lifetime said that they first experienced it before age 18.”

According to Shupert, for 47 years, Hope Shores Alliance has been providing trauma-informed and survivor-centered services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence across five counties that include Alpena, Alcona, Iosco, Montmorency, and Presque Isle.

Shupert stated that within the past year, Hope Shores Alliance has provided over 1,600 hours of therapy, crisis intervention, and advocacy support to survivors. Shupert reported that Hope Shores Alliance has seen a 95% reduction in PTSD symptoms and an increase in coping skills, as measured by post-service assessments.

“Additionally, feedback surveys consistently show high levels of satisfaction, with survivors noting increased feelings of safety, self-worth, and hope,” Shupert said.

Shupert stated that offering virtual therapy sessions, coupled with additional advocacy support, Hope Shores Alliance has increased access for survivors who face transportation challenges or live in isolated areas.

“Since implementing these options, participation rates have grown by 70%,” Shupert said.

In 2024, according to the 2024 Hope Shores Alliance annual report, the center provided 3,569 shelter/motel nights and 11,372 transitional housing nights for victims. Hope Shores Alliance also provided 439 counseling hours and filled 28 protective orders. Overall, the center served 574 domestic violence survivors, 160 sexual assault survivors, and 22 stalking survivors.

Jeanine Kaltz, Hope Shores Alliance prevention and outreach coordinator, explained that to work towards ending IPV and sexual violence in the community, Hope Shores Alliance is only one part of the equation.

“The same way we expect our area to be beautiful, we know that it’s not just going to be beautiful,” Shupert said. “We have to pick up…We have to do our part, the entire community has to keep our area beautiful. The same thing is true with violence.”

Additionally, Kaltz said that to eliminate IPV and sexual violence, the community has to commit to preventing violence from occurring.

“We want to work with coaching boys and men into being allies because us working with survivors of violence is never going to end violence,” Kaltz said. “Logically, that’s never going to work. We need the community to work with us so that we are all agreeing in our community…it’s not happening here.”

Kaltz also noted their Mentors in Violence Prevention program, which focuses on supporting adolescents who are experiencing IPV. She explained that anyone over the age of 14 does not need parental permission to seek services from Hope Shores Alliance.

Community members seeking services or have additional questions about Hope Shores Alliance should contact them at 989-356-2560 or contactus@hopeshores.org.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.

This story has been updated to reflect that Jeanine Kaltz is included in the photo. This information was incorrect in an earlier version of the story.