Battered Women's Shelter

At its monthly meetings, members of the San Antonio Chapter of ARMA International collect donations of ladies toiletries, baby items, childs toys, etc for delivery to the shelter. Cash donations are also accepted.

In 1977, Ann Whitehead, a social worker with the Salvation Army, realized the pervasiveness of family violence in San Antonio. She envisioned an environment where victims of abuse could find respite from fear.

She enlisted the help of Reverend Don Baugh, Director of the San Antonio Community of Churches, in establishing a shelter for battered women and their children. With faith, determination and $400, Whitehead opened a shelter in a three-bedroom house on San Antonio's north side. It was immediately filled to capacity. Concerned citizens raised money and collected food, clothing and diapers and operated the shelter on a day-to-day basis. With the demand for services increasing, the shelter moved to its present location in 1979. By the mid-eighties, literature had been developed increasing community awareness and prompting public funding.

As women revealed their stories, it was soon realized that the victim's needs exceeded mere shelter. Many victims had witnessed violence in their homes as children and statistics pointed to a pattern of abuse by the abused. The Battered Women's Shelter of Bexar County began a program designed to break the cycle of violence. The Shelter began an intervention process directed at children that would enable youngsters to break out of patterns of abuse. For the first time, women had reasonable choices. They did not have to return to the abuser because there wasn't any place to live.

The Shelter has become a model for the nation by introducing innovative programs designed to help women and children become more self-efficient.

To make donations or for more information, contact the Shelter.