Victims say it's priceless to have a safe place to stay away from their abuser and one woman at the Mita Maske Ti Ki shelter says she nearly died from the abuse she suffered.

It can be tough for women who are abused to find a safe place to go. But many find that at Mita Maske Ti Ki shelter, a place one woman says is helping her get back on her feet. 

For women and children who have been abused, something as simple as a backyard to play in and a place to unwind can help with their recovery. 

Domestic abuse victim "Kelly" says, "When I came here I was able to just relax and think about things and the advocates were here to help to talk." 

This woman, who wanted us to call her Kelly, says if she didn't come to the Mika Maske Ti Ki shelter in Sioux Falls, she could have lost her life. 

"Kelly" says, "I used to be a very strong independent women and to be abused and told that you're nothing and to almost have your life taken from me made me realize, 'I am something and my children are something,' and we needed to get somewhere where someone would understand and would help us." 

"Kelly" says understanding is what the victim's advocates at the Sioux Falls shelter have given to her family. And if the shelter shuts down, it would be a hardship for many women facing similar life and death situations. 

Mita Maske Ti Ki victim's advocate Kimberly St. John says, "So we're there to support them, empower them, to make them realize hey you can do this and we're going to stand by you the whole entire time." 

"Kelly" says, "They've given me the ability to stand on my feet, to get back that power that was taken from me." 

Something that will not happen anymore if the money for this shelter runs out.

Shelter officials say they will probably run out of money by the end of August. But they won't know until October whether the shelter will be awarded grants to keep it open. 

To donate to the shelter click here.