The Houston Area Women’s Center offers a variety of services to individuals affected by domestic and sexual violence. All of our services are confidential and free of charge.

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Hotline Services

Shelter Services

Counseling Services

Children and Youth Services

Communities Served

24-Hour Crisis Intervention - Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotlines

Help is just a phone call away. Knowledgeable and compassionate advocates are here for you, 24-hours a day, to lend a supportive ear, connect you with Houston Area Women's Center services that meet your needs and provide referrals to valuable community resources. Our Hotlines serve as the gateway to all of our services. 

Domestic Violence Hotline  (713) 528-2121      

Sexual Assault Hotline  (713) 528-RAPE (7273)

Safe Shelter for Survivors  

Individuals and families fleeing from abuse can find safety and support in our 120-bed shelter and facilities. Our shelter is at an undisclosed location and supports 24-hour surveillance and security personnel. Clients entering the shelter can expect clean and comfortable amenities and access to a host of programs, resources and support staff. Each client regularly connects with a case advocate to work on safety planning, goal setting and discuss additional community resources so the client may make informed decisions about the future. To promote economic stability and independence, the Career Development Program provides assistance and resources to help each client work towards educational and/or employment goals. 

Children and youth are a top priority at the Women's Center. Our dedicated and highly trained children's staff create a safe and comfortable environment that focuses on the needs of each child so they can work through the trauma, develop coping skills, and spend time having fun and being a kid again. To remove the barriers of securing childcare, we offer daycare, educational arrangments and after-school programming to ensure mothers can work towards goals, such as counseling, education and employment. 

• Individual/Group Counseling services for women, youth, and children
• Career Development Program (skills assessment and training, career planning, financial assistance for education and training, career closet) 
• Advocacy, Resources and Referrals provided during individual appointments and weekly meetings
• Women's and Children's Libraries
• Cafeteria dining serves three nutritious meals each day to all residents
• Parenting Education classes
• Bench-lined courtyard garden and covered age-appropriate play areas
• On-site early childhood daycare provided and arrangements for HISD schooling
• Children's Enrichment Programs- after school, field trips and events are organized for children of all ages

Counseling Services

Our compassionate counselors create a safe and therapeutic environment for individuals to share experiences; develop coping skills; recognize and learn from feelings; acknowledge strengths and set personal goals. We trust each individual's inner direction and encourage her/him to take the lead in all areas of her/his healing process.

The Houston Area Women's Center recognizes that violence does not discriminate based on gender or age. We provide services to women, men and children. Counselors connect clients to services specific to each survivor's needs. We offer 35 weekly support groups for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. We also serve friends and family members of adult survivors of sexual violence and the non-offending parents/caregivers of child survivors. Individual counseling is available to survivors who may not be ready for group, or when a support group is not available for them. However, the majority of our clients report satisfaction and improvement from attending group counseling, which provides a powerful opportunity to break the silence, reduce feelings of shame and isolation, and connect with other survivors experiencing similar issues.  

Domestic Violence Counseling for Adult Survivors

• Individual and group counseling options for women and men 
• Community-based counseling and advocacy services for individuals with special needs
• Education/support groups for non-offending family and friends of survivors
• Services provided in English and Spanish, with accommodations for all other languages and abilities
• Provide resources and referrals based on individual's specific needs
• Expert testimony in civil and criminal cases
• See Shelter information
  

Counseling for Adult Survivors of Sexual Assault and Adult Survivors of Childhood Incest

• Individual and group counseling and support services for survivors of sexual violence, including some 12-week curriculum-based incest survivor groups
• Community-based counseling and advocacy services provided for individuals with special needs
• Services provided in English and Spanish, and all languages accommodated
• Educational support groups for non-offending family and friends of survivors
• Expert testimony in civil and criminal case
• Learn more about our Support Groups for Sexual Assault and Incest Survivors

Counseling for Children and Youth

To the Parents and Caregivers of Child Survivors of Domestic Violence and/or Sexual Assault/Abuse;

We understand the pain, anger, frustration and sorrow this crime has caused the child survivor, you, and your loved ones. Through our services, you can find relief in knowing that each child will be listened to, heard, and believed. Children are encouraged to ask questions about anything that happens in counseling, and have the right to decide whether or not they want to participate in any counseling activities or discussions. Counseling can be interesting, and believe it or not, fun! However, it can also be painful. The child and counselor work together to make counseling sessions safe and supportive, so the child can experience and express his or her feelings and thoughts. During each session, counselors facilitate interactive, age appropriate activities designed to allow each child to share when they are ready. On occasion, counselors may provide activities to be completed by the child outside of the sessions. 

Counseling Options for Children and Youth 

• Individual and group counseling for children (ages 5-18) who have witnessed domestic violence
• Individual and group counseling for teens that have witnessed domestic violence and/or experienced dating violence
• Individual and group counseling for children (ages 5-18) who are survivors of sexual abuse and incest
• Therapeutic childcare provided for the children of adult clients (under age six) during domestic violence survivor's support group

Call our 24-Hour hotlines to learn more about counseling services or schedule an appointment.

Domestic Violence Hotline (713) 528-2121

Sexual Assault Hotline (713) 528-RAPE (7273)