BOERNE, Texas – In the fast growing Texas Hill Country domestic abuse is a growing problem, and so is the need for services. Since opening in 2012, the Kendall County Women’s Shelter has seen its client caseload increase.
Planting roots, breaking stereotypes
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The idea for the shelter began in 2007 with the understanding from those in the community that domestic violence did not discriminate.
“Just because you live in Boerne doesn’t mean the abuse is going to stop,” Kendall County Women’s Shelter Executive Director Hattie Allen said.
She said women were being sent to shelters in Seguin, Kerrville, San Antonio and New Braunfels – in some cases 50 miles away.
“There was a need for victims to come locally,” Allen said. “Ladies were having to uproot their families, move their kids out of school and then travel and have to quit their jobs for safety. So they were seeing a lot of victims that would go back to the abuse.”
In the four years since opening, the nonprofit has evolved from an emergency shelter to providing multiple services like case management, full-time counseling and legal advocacy in hopes of helping clients become independent.
‘They usually have all control over everything they do’
One of the biggest monetary hurdles for both the client and the shelter is the need for basic day-to-day items.
“(Victims) are usually financially connected to their abuser. The abuser is usually the money-maker and the controller of all finances. So that is a huge barrier for them,” Allen said. “We make sure they have their basic needs: food, clothing, medicine, things like that. Then we start working with them on what they need to move to self-sufficiency and to live free from violence and not go back to their abuser.”
On average, the shelter has 25-29 women and families in its residential shelter. With the expanded services come additional options. Clients now have the option of seeking non-residential services. They get the same support as people staying at the shelter, but can stay with a relative in the area.
Community support for full-service shelter
The shelter also helps keep children enrolled in schools that they attend or works to enroll them in a Boerne ISD school.
Allen said the shelter is successful because of community support. The shelter, which served seven animals in 2012 and seen a seven-fold increase in four years, even has a pet facility so clients don’t have to leave pets behind.
“In the Boerne community we have had tremendous support. That is one thing that is really unique to Boerne,” Allen said.
Next to the administrative offices is a thrift store staffed by volunteers. Money raised helps fund operations of the shelter.
Big Give for a big cause
Like it is for many nonprofits, Allen said every little bit helps. She said that the addition of Big Give SA last year helped them raise several extra thousand dollars. She added that the one-day fundraiser raised awareness of each nonprofit.
“It is easy. You get on the Big Give website, click a few buttons and then you've given your donation,” she said.
The money raised from Big Give SA also comes unrestricted, which Allen said is an added bonus that is used to help fund the basic needs of the shelter.
Growing need
Explosive growth in Kendall County is only adding to the needs that the KCWS provides. Since 2010, the county has grown 20.9 percent from nearly 33,400 people to just under 40,400 since 2010, according to the U.S. Census.
Experts expect that trend to continue.
“You look at Kendall County as a whole and our service area, it is booming. So you know there is going to be more and more clients,” Allen said, pointing to national abuse statistics. “If people are moving here, and thousands of people are moving here, and you are looking at one in three people are abused that is just going to happen.”
After a client is able to move into a new home or apartment, the shelter continues to help with basic daily needs. Allen said the organization is already planning to expand.
With their goal of $10,000, Allen highlighted the importance of other nonprofits taking part in this year's Big Give SA.
“Without these organizations, there would be huge community issues. Think about it: You would have more homelessness, more food deficiency, a lot of different issues that, unfortunately, can't be taken care of by anyone except these organizations that are able to step in and provide the resources,” she said.