Alexandra House — Local services in Blaine

Well I wasn't going to leave a review until advocate called me this morning. So what I want to say about Alexandra houses this if you're in a unsafe place thenyes go to Alexandra House because you need to be safe.Its clean and you can get home cooked meals. The one thing you should know is don't go there looking for help or support there is none the people there are just apathetic they have no help in them no feeling for you know advocacy most people I see they have to fend for themselves they'll give you a bunch of numbers to call and you get gaslighted a lot The advocate I had I'll call her shamile reminds me of my abuser in the way she speaks determining how you feel for you and what you think and you can't get a word in edgewise I've seen young women they are so frustrated and without any help that they ended up going back to their abuser I've seen people who had nothing and they were offered no help I think the women there it's almost like they have a disdain for you because you're in a certain situation. They just decide who you are and how you are and you're never given the benefit of a doubt that you might have come from something decent it's like they're constantly looking down your nose at you. When filling out my exit survey it questioned me about the services that I received and my question was what services.the survey asked about what groups did what groups did I attend what lessons that I learned that I learned there was no groups there was no advocacy I don't think they know what it means to be an advocate. There is no groups no counseling no advocacy I don't think they understand what it means to be an advocate. Also on my exit survey I chose not to say anything negative and I would not have until this morning when an advocate actually call me to complain about what I didn't say on the survey. And then because she couldn't push her ideas and her agenda and tell me how I felt and what I mean she hung up on me which is fine. The thing is is that the truth of the matter is I walk through their feeling like I was on an island by myself I'm in a situation that I've never been in. And now yes I got a smile on my face because I'm not going to walk around with my head down going Boo hoo especially when you see very clearly that you're around people who have absolutely no understanding no empathy no care no concern and you there's no one to talk to and they're upset not because you felt that way but because you didn't give them a good review it's all about them. In the space of time that I was there I met many women I don't know one yet who just did not have a sense of hopelessness and even a bit of just anger trying to deal with the people who call themselves advocates. Anytime you can get a position such as an advocacy in a domestic violence shelter and the criteria is that you take a 40-hour course over the course of 6 months you have no knowledge no understanding you have no feeling no compassion you have nothing to compare the experience of the people who you were supposed to be advocating for I don't care how long you been doing it and have you been doing it for 30 years so you say and you have done no better it's time for you to take your backside. It's sad when you're talking to you're supposed to be advocate and you understand that they quote" are busy performing for those around them you are the token you know melanated one who's chosen to belittle and put everyone down you keep you know you the massas person. I've seen young women with children getting excited bawling crying in tears because they need help and they've been given none so they have no choice but to go back to their abuser where is the advocacy there? I asked for help I have absolutely nothing I had to walk away and leave everything with the exception of some clothing and personal items I was able to get. I'm grateful you help me get a low income apartment in the state that's good . But I challenge one to tell me about any...

If i could give this place 0 stars i would. I do not encourage any donations to be given to this shelter. I will talk to all the necessary people to make my voice heard. this shelter does not provide the women with any resources that i have talked to during my stay here. i am thankful for the safe and warm bed, the meals, and the donations though.

During my 5 day stay at this shelter i took the first day to rest in peace as i was finally safe from both domestic abuse and sex trafficking. I met with my advocate once and she did not help me create a plan or a to do list. my mental health was crippling and not aiding my ability to help myself. i was and still am i dire need of SUPPORT. I was not helped with any services during my stay here. I was not connected with any resources. I was not EVEN helped to gather any of my belongings. I rode the bus, the train, and walked with my suitcases from st paul to blaine and was a few minutes late due to my unfamiliarity with the 2 hour transit it took to get from city to city. I called the shelter for help getting back when the train stopped working and they could not even offer any lienancy when it came to curfew. they told me that i could not go back to the shelter.

it must be noted that in the HANDBOOK that we reviewed together it stated that one of the services they offered was to help me get my belongings with police escort if it was necessary to keep me safe.

that night i ended up being stranded in st paul with all my belongings and was not able to sleep because i was not safe out in the streets once again a victim of sex trafficking. i have been out in the streets ever since and have finally amoun ted enough safety to write this review and to contiue and initiate the grievance procedure. any other women with similiar experiences are free to contact me so together we can have our voices heard. THIS IS NOT OKAY! I...

Ok so I nearly loose my life in a domestic, partially deaf in my right ear because of blunt force trauma...can't fully open or close my mouth or chew on the left side of my mouth because of damage that happened and healed with NO medical attention. I make it here, I'm safe...so I thought, I've ONLY been here for 12 days and they are wanting to vacate me and my special needs son, fully knowing that we have NO WHERE to go. I can't believe that after ALL we've been through with his dad...we're NOW being made to leave n 2 days. Needless to say I'M SCARED TO DEATH THAT WE MIGHT BE FOUND being that now we have to go where he can get to. I've ALREADY instructed my FAMILY/FRIENDS to sue Alexandra house if something happens to us. Because not meeting with the advocate enough in 2 weeks hardly seems big enough deal to be vacate us senselessly and potentially back to our abuser. I'm totally disappointed in the women shelter 😞 they CLEARLY pick and choose when to care about one's...