SHELTER FROM THE STORM
For many women, the healing process can not begin until they are removed from their environment of violence. Shelters are available for battered women all across America. These shelters provide a temporary SHELTER FROM THE STORM for the victims and their children. In most cases the location of the shelter is kept secret from the general public.This helps to protect the residents from harassment and further abuse.
When a woman is admitted to a shelter, she is asked to think about her goals and what she wants to
accomplish while she isss at the shelter. She may wish to seek employment, find her own home, and file
for divorce. If she desires to keep her marriage together, she may want to try reconciliation through the
help of professional counselors.
The purpose of the shelter is not to advocate divorce or any other specific course of action. The shelter
staff and volunteers are there to help each woman look at her options and support her decisions, not to
make decisions for her. Their role is to put her in touch with community resources that can help her
reach her goals.
OTHER SERVICES
Not all battered women need or want temporary shelter. Shelters that contract with the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) Family Violence Program offer more than lodging. Some of the services that are available for residents and nonresidents include:
*24 HOUR TELEPHONE HOTLINES
*EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION
*HELP IN GETTING EMERGENCY CARE
*INFORMATION AND REFERRAL
*COUNSELING SERVICES
*SERVICES FOR CHILDREN
*IMMEDIATE REPORTS TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR CHILD ABUSE AND CHILD NEGLECT
*HELP IN GETTING LEGAL SERVICES
*COORDINATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
*ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION, AND
*HELP WITH SEEKING OR KEEPING JOBS.
When a battered woman has no marketable skills, no job, no money, no car, and children to support, these
basic services can help her establish a violence free home. Without this help, she may feel overwhelmed
and see her problems as no way to escape from her abusive situation.
Texas Help numbers
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