Women’s shelters help those who experience abuse recoup and restart their lives. To learn more about staying at a women’s shelter, read our guide.
Women in need find women’s shelters through friends or family, churches, counseling offices, or domestic violence hotlines. Once they find a shelter, they’re directed to call to determine if they can stay there. Once a woman makes the decision to leave her home, perhaps with kids in tow, many shelters offer a means of transportation to their location. But if you were to go to a shelter, what should you expect when you get there? To ease your mind about this unknown, here is a guide to what staying at a women’s shelter is like.
Screening and Intake Paperwork
Before arriving, shelter phone operators screen potential clients on the initial call to determine their eligibility. If they are eligible (experience of violence is a common factor), the operator will offer them a spot and tell them what the shelter offers in terms of stay length, services, and supplies. The operator then asks if they will be bringing children and/or pets, if they have existing medical conditions or substance abuse problems, and if they have transportation to the shelter. It’s important that clients safely transition, so the shelter representative will help them plan according to the woman’s circumstances.
Upon arrival, if they are emotionally up to it, the client fills out intake paperwork that asks them about their current perceived safety, their abuser’s description, and future concerns.
Clothes Cleaning and Welcome Supplies
To maintain the integrity of the facility, shelter advocates put client clothes in high temperature dryers to prevent the spread of bacteria and pests. Also, residents are assured access to necessities they may lack, though women’s shelters always need more of certain supplies. It’s difficult for women to take all they need when they move; they may come without toiletries, extra clothes, and supplies for their kids or pets. The shelter provides these and more as clients become trusted by the shelter and illustrate their need for certain items, such as a phone to use as a contact during a job interview.
Tour the Shelter and Brief on Security
Then a representative gives the client a tour of the facilities and briefs them on security measures. Women’s shelters have tight protocols to prevent past abusers from showing up to the shelter and gaining access to their former significant other or family. There is a shelter rep who works the desk and only lets certain people inside, ensuring the locked doors stay shut.
Sign a Confidentiality Agreement
To ensure all residents’ safety, clients must sign a confidentiality agreement. This means they cannot reveal who else is seeking refuge or receiving services. The shelter staff also commits to confidentiality—besides basic demographic information (age bracket and race/ethnicity), no external parties will receive your personal information. The exception is when there is imminent harm or threat of harm to you, an elder, or a child, or there is a crime committed they must report.
Seek Services
Once someone staying at a women’s shelter establishes themselves, they can explore various counseling services. Enrolling in domestic violence counseling helps develop positive coping strategies for trauma and perhaps address negative thinking about their perceived role in their abuse. There are counseling services for children as well. Finally, clients can use shelter connections to kick-start a job search.