how to start a shelter for women

United States
May 19, 2009 10:59am CST
Hi there. I live in a small town where I don't think there is a shelter for battered/abused women. I am curious how to go about starting a state or government funded shelter. what the steps would be, and where I would begin.
1 person likes this
1 response
@thyst07 (2079)
• United States
19 May 09
The first thing you should probably do is to be very well-informed about what a women's shelter does, and what it needs to operate effectively. Helping battered and abused women is something that requires not only compassion and caring, but also education about the kinds of issues you will face and how to deal with them in a safe and sensitive manner. Women who are victims of abuse not only need a safe place, they will also frequently need professional counseling services, legal services, and help with establishing an independent life. Running a women's shelter isn't as easy as just giving women a place to stay, and it will probably require a lot of help and a lot of resources. A lot of women's shelters around the US have web pages. You could try looking some of them up to get information about what they do and how they operate. If you do think that you have the education and resources necessary to do this effectively, then you could try contacting your city's government offices. They would be able to tell you if your city has any particular laws or ordinances about shelters. They could probably also give you information about how to establish a non-profit organization and who to contact about getting government funding.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 May 09
Hi Thyst, thanks for the thorough and informative answer. Much appreciated.