How We Work With You

When you come to us for help, we listen and build a relationship with you based on trust and understanding that supports your way forward. All of our services are free.

You deserve respect and dignity.

No matter how you were involved in the crime, you’re worthy of respect and care. We listen without judgment and treat you with dignity.

You know what’s best for you.

We can give you choices and support, but it’s up to you to decide what to do. You don’t have to follow our advice. We take your lead and won’t make you do anything.

We treat you as a whole person.

You’re more than the painful things that have happened to you. You’re a complete person with feelings, goals, strengths, and challenges in every part of your life.

You don't have to speak English.

Se habla Español. ROAR has a native Spanish speaker on staff and access to interpreters for other languages.

You don’t have to talk to the police.

We can help you whether you report the crime to the police or not. If you do want to work with them, we can help you understand your legal rights and options.

You don’t have to have your papers.

We can help you regardless of your immigration status. Our lawyers can help you with immigration concerns as part of our other legal services.

I felt so lost when I first came to ROAR. Everywhere I went for some help they turned me away. ROAR listened to me—from that first call to when everything I needed was resolved. I would refer anybody to ROAR.

Manuela A.

¿Necesitas Ayuda?

Interpreters are available for other languages. Please ask!

What does "Trauma-Informed" mean?

Going through a painful event such as a crime can affect how your mind works, what you need to feel safe, and how you react to things around you. Sometimes, when people trying to help don’t understand how this trauma changes you, they might unintentionally make things worse.

At ROAR, all our services are “trauma-informed.” Even though everyone’s experience is unique, this means we understand what survivors often need, think, and feel after a crime. We know the right things to do—and what not to do—to help survivors heal from different types of traumatic experiences. We offer all our services in one place, so you don’t have to keep talking about painful memories over and over again.

Examples

How do our services work together? Here are some examples. Your situation may be similar or different.

Black woman with short white hair and funky glasses smiling and holding a school-aged mixed-race boy in jean jacket, also smiling.

Scenario 1

A 24-year-old Black man has been admitted to the hospital after being treated at the Trauma Center after being shot three times in the chest and arms. When he wakes up he meets the violence interventionist employed by the hospital. He has lots of questions: Where is his cell phone, wallet, house keys, and cash that he had on him when he got shot? What will his employer do when they find out he won’t be coming back to work right away? How will he pay for all this medical treatment? How will he ever go back to his apartment when he was shot right outside it? 

Our possible solutions

  • We can help him navigate the process to get his property back from the Baltimore Police Department.
  • We can help him talk with his employer and keep his job.
  • We can help him apply for financial assistance to help him pay the medical bills and other costs related to being shot, too.
  • We can help him find new housing and negotiate with his current landlord to be able to move.

Scenario 2

A 19-year old white woman is living on the streets of Baltimore City. She has been using heroin for the past couple of years and her family asked her to leave when her use got heavy. She has been living with her boyfriend in a tent close to the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus. She recently discovered she was pregnant and her boyfriend got really upset. He started screaming and yelling which he had done before, but then hit her and threw her to the ground and started kicking her in the stomach. He had never gotten violent before. She’s not sure what to do. She wants him to go to jail but she doesn’t trust the police, since they hassle her all the time about asking for money and sleeping outside. She’s also not sure how to be safe, maybe get clean, and what about the pregnancy? There’s so much to figure out.

Our possible solutions

  • We can tell her about her legal options and help her weigh the pros and cons of each option.
  • If she chooses to take legal action, we can represent her.
  • We can educate her on how best to respond to the police if and when they do approach her again.
  • If the way the police treated her in the past violated police policy and/or her rights, we can help her make a complaint and even consult with an attorney.
  • We can help her make an informed decision about the pregnancy and what is the best course of action for her. SHE will be the one to choose.
  • We can help her find a place that will provide stable housing and treat her substance use disorder, perhaps even specifically for pregnant people if that is the path she chooses.

Scenario 3

A single mom with three kids lost her oldest son to gun violence. He was shot just two blocks from their home. She’s afraid to leave the house because some people in the neighborhood think she’s talking too much to the police about what happened. She’s been missing work 2-3 days every week. Her boss says she used up all her time off and she might lose her job. Her other children are afraid to go to school and their grades have dropped. Now the girl’s teacher says she might have to repeat first grade. The mom’s 12-year-old son goes to school about 4 days a week.

Our possible solutions

  • We could help the mom move out of her current housing quickly if she lives in public housing, transferring a Section 8 voucher, or breaking her lease. This way, she and her family can find a safer place to live, away from the people involved in the shooting.
  • We could also talk with her boss to get more support and time off work to help her keep her job.
  • We can check if she’s eligible for any government financial assistance.
  • Working together with the mom, we can talk with teachers and administrators at the kids’ schools to make sure they get the extra help they need at school to catch up.
  • We can offer mental health counseling for the whole family. We can also connect the mom to our peer support groups where members who’ve lost someone to violence can share support and understanding.

Scenario 4

A 54-year-old woman was sexually assaulted by her boss at the hotel where she’s worked for the past 13 years. He’d been saying mean and upsetting things to her for years, but this time he pushed her onto a bed and raped her. Since then, she hasn’t been able to leave her house. She’s too scared to tell her husband what happened. Her kids are really worried, but she just keeps saying she’s not feeling well.

Our possible solutions

  • We could provide her with mental health support through counseling.
  • We could talk about her legal options after the rape—such as telling the police, reporting it to the hotel management, or not telling anyone—and help her figure out what she wants to do.
  • If her boss or hotel management don’t handle things well, we can help her get financial help such as money from unemployment or disability. We can also guide her to lawyers outside of ROAR who might be able to help file a lawsuit against her employer (we can’t do that ourselves).
  • If she’s worried about getting pregnant or sick, we can help her get urgent medical care.
we can help you regardless of your immigration status. you do not have to report the crime to police.

Check out our free self-help resources available to everyone.

¿Necesitas Ayuda?

If you qualify for our free services (or don't know if you qualify)
PLEASE CALL
schedule intake call

Questions? Visit our contact page to send us an email or find our address.

Whether you qualify or not, check out our free online
self-help resources