Hurricane Beryl Impacts Domestic Violence Shelter, Funds Needed for Families Fleeing Violence
Research shows family violence increases in the wake of natural disasters
As Houston recovers and responds to Hurricane Beryl, families fleeing violence should be top of mind. The Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC) runs a 24-hour call service and 120-bed emergency shelter for domestic violence survivors. Financial contributions from the community to subsidize the region’s largest domestic violence service provider are urgently needed. As soon as the worst of the hurricane passed, calls from mothers with children seeking safety came pouring in. HAWC’s already full shelter worked to accommodate the demand, all the while running operations on a generator with very limited staff.
HAWC is currently staffing the 24/7 hotline and emergency shelter, pulling on extra resources as staff and facilities respond to shelter damage, outages, and the complex needs of the survivors calling for help for immediate and life-saving support. Staff worked to immediately remove debris at the shelter which is currently at capacity, working overtime and sleeping at the shelter on cots or wherever they can find space. HAWC’s shelter sustained damage to the roof and both its security gate and services entrance. HAWC’s generator is up and running, increasing fuel and maintenance costs.
HAWC calls on the Houston region to support its life-saving services which are designed to reduce the region’s alarming homicide rates and help families heal and thrive in the wake of harm. President and CEO Emilee D. Whitehurst explains, “HAWC advocates remain steadfast in the wake of natural disasters to support survivors in imminent danger, even while dealing with the impacts of the storm on their own lives. That’s what it means to center survivors and to ensure we are there for any and all fleeing violence, every day of the year, rain or shine or hurricane. We ask the Houston community to show survivors they matter by investing in our services and operations.”
Research consistently shows family violence increases in the wake of natural disasters, and Hurricane Beryl seems to be no exception. Survivors are even more vulnerable when they are isolated, possibly without cell service, and unable to leave their homes. HAWC has seen again and again how abusers leverage disasters to exercise increased control and coercion over the lives of survivors.
During natural disasters and the days following, survivors can be trapped inside the home with abusers due to outages and road inaccessibility. The increase in natural disasters in Houston means a greater need for services, awareness, education, and, ultimately, funding. Disasters increase isolation from family and friends, making vulnerable populations all the more vulnerable. This isolation makes it even more difficult for survivors to seek and access support services and resources.
As the urgency and complexity of the calls increase, so does HAWC’s need for additional funding to staff the hotline, reduce wait times, and ensure survivors receive critical, life-saving support. Houston has consistently failed to provide adequate safety to survivors in danger due to a lack of emergency beds. This is why HAWC is expanding, tripling our capacity to provide real-time safety. The new 135-unit emergency and supportive housing facility will be finished by early 2025, not a moment too soon, as the region is becoming increasingly prone to natural disasters with long-term extended recovery efforts required.
This rising need for services shines a light on the need for expanding and improving HAWC’s service delivery infrastructure. Support is urgently needed now and for the long haul.
Safety planning saves lives. HAWC offers free, individualized safety planning through the domestic violence hotline and chat on this website.
HAWC Domestic Violence Hotline: (713) 528-2121
HAWC Sexual Assault Hotline: (713) 528-RAPE (7273)
Ensure calls continue being answered; please consider financially supporting survivors at hawc.org/donate.