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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sarah’s Inn?
Sarah’s Inn, located in Oak Park, Illinois, was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 1981, and has been providing domestic violence services to 22
near west suburban communities and the Austin community on the west side of Chicago for 25 years. The near west suburbs include: Bellwood, Berkeley, Berwyn,
Broadview, Brookfield, Cicero, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, Franklin Park, Hillside, LaGrange Park, Maywood, Melrose Park, Northlake, North Riverside, Oak Park,
Riverside, River Forest, River Grove, Schiller Park, Stone Park and Westchester. Our mission is to stand with women and their families to ensure freedom from domestic
violence in every community. Services provided by Sarah’s Inn are available in English, Spanish and American Sign Language and include the following: support and
education groups, individual counseling and advocacy, legal advocacy, a 24-hour crisis line, an Abuser Intervention Program, a Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program,
and community outreach and education.
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence is a pattern of physical and psychological abuse, threats, intimidation, isolation or economic coercion used by one person to exert power and
control over another person in the context of a dating, family or household relationship. Domestic violence cuts across all socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, religious
and racial lines and exists in heterosexual relationships as well as same gender relationships. It is maintained by societal and cultural attitudes, institutions and laws
which are not consistent in naming this violence as wrong.
Is Sarah’s Inn an emergency shelter?
No, Sarah’s Inn is not currently an emergency shelter. However, in the near future, Sarah’s Inn does plan on opening an emergency shelter in Oak Park that will provide
temporary emergency housing for up to 40 women and their families per day. In the interim, we do provide referrals and linkages to domestic violence shelters. Call our
24-Hour Crisis Line at 708.386.4225 if you are in need of assistance in locating an emergency shelter.
Do we help only women who are survivors of domestic violence?
Although the majority of our services are tailored for women, children and teens who are survivors of domestic violence, we do assist male victims through our 24-Hour
Crisis Line. If you are a male victim of domestic violence, you can call our crisis line at 708.386.4225 for support, information and referrals.
Is there a fee for any of the services you offer?
All our services are provided free of charge, with the exception of our Abuser Intervention Services Program and our 40-Hour Domestic Violence Training. Clients in the
Abuser Intervention Services Program are charged based on a sliding scale fee, while only non-volunteers pay a fee for the 40-Hour Training.
What should I do if I know someone who is experiencing domestic violence?
Ask your friend how you can help or refer them to a place like Sarah’s Inn. There are several resources available on the web – click on our "Links and Resources" tab on
this website and you will be directed to a variety of places that provide information about how to help a friend. And, you can always call the Sarah’s Inn 24-Hour Crisis
Line at 708.386.4225 to talk with an advocate about resources, ideas and options.
Do you provide couples counseling?
No, we do not provide couples counseling. Couples counseling has generally been shown to be ineffective in addressing domestic violence and potentially dangerous for
the victim. Therefore, we do not provide and do not recommend couples counseling.
Do you provide anger management classes?
No, we do not provide anger management classes. Domestic violence is not an anger management issue. It is about one’s choice to exercise power and control over his/her 
partner, not about his/her inability to control his/her anger. Therefore, anger management programs do not address the root cause of domestic violence. For more
information about our Abuser Intervention Services Program, click on the “Our Programs” section of this website.
Where does the funding to provide our services come from?
Our funding comes from a variety of places including individual, foundation, corporate, United Way and government funders. You can download our most recent annual
report from this website to see a detailed breakdown of these funders and contributors for fiscal year 2005.
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