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Guest article by Georgine Getty.

On September 14, 2007, Cincinnati lost a great friend to the homeless community. Julie Martin, Case Management Coordinator at the YWCA Battered Women Shelter was tragically killed in a car accident outside of Indianapolis. She was only 37 years old.

Those of us lucky enough to know Julie knew that she was a fierce advocate for the families that she served and was intolerant of any system that attempted to revictimize them. Julie was the kind of case manager who wouldn’t take no for an answer if it came to one of her clients. 

According to her supervisor and good friend Theresa Singleton, “Julie was so dedicated - she always went the extra mile making sure that women had every opportunity to gain independence and live abuse free.  Julie’s car overflowed with household items that she gave to women moving out of the shelter helping them to start a new life.” Julie achieved the balance that all great service providers strive to achieve; the balance between infinite compassion and patience with the clients that she served and infinite advocacy and impatience against the cruel realities of the system that we have to change.

Last December, Julie was honored as the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Service Provider of the Year because of her exemplary work in the homeless community. After a unanimous vote of her peers at GCCH, the award will be re-named in her honor so that Julie will remain the gold standard of service provision in Cincinnati.

Julie is survived by her family; daughter Gabrielle (Gabby) Greathouse and son Max Chasteen, parents Barry and Carole Martin, brother, John Martin and sister, Jennifer Martin and grandfather Richard Patty. Julie is also survived by a community of service providers who will miss her dearly. Finally, Julie is survived by her legacy of service to the families of Cincinnati, families that continue to thrive in homes free from abuse thanks to her tireless efforts.

If you wish to contribute to the Julie Martin Memorial Fund, please visit http://www.ywca.org or send donations to Julie Martin Memorial Fund, YWCA of Greater Cincinnati, 898 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

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