Looking Back, Leading Forward

35 years of Herstory

1977

The Houston Area Women's Center ("the Center") is Incorporated.

Women's Information & Referral Exchange Service started by volunteers of Women in Action to provide much needed resources to women who are battered.

1978   

The Center leases its first shelter for battered women and their children; it is opened with 8 beds.

The University of Texas School of Public Health loans the Center a one room office.

The Women's Information & Referral Exchange Service becomes a program of The Houston Area Women’s Center and squeezes into a one room office.

1979

The Houston Area Women’s Center purchases its own shelter facility accommodating 19 women and children.

1980

The Houston Rape Crisis Coalition becomes the Rape Crisis Program of the Center.

Sexual assault and incest survivors support groups are offered.    

1981

The Houston Area Women’s Center becomes a United Way Agency.

The Center's counseling and education offices move into the facility at 4 Chelsea Place, generously loaned by the Woman's Club of Houston.

1982

The Hilda & Reuben Askanase Library of the Houston Area Women’s Center opens with books and journals available to staff, clients and community on issues related to domestic and sexual violence.

Sexual assault hospital accompaniment program begins.

The Center participates in legislative committee responsible for overhaul of sexual assault statutes.

1983

The Center remodels the shelter facility to accommodate 45 women and children.

The Houston Police Department announces a new administrative policy calling for arrests in cases of domestic violence. This announcement came after a year long task force, including representatives from The Houston Area Women’s Center, study of the issue of police response to domestic violence.

1984

The Center opens the Non-Residential Counseling and Outreach Program which offers counseling and advocacy for battered women in the community.

The Rape Crisis Program establishes a satellite office to provide technical assistance to the Fort Bend County Citizens Against Sexual Assault.

After years of lobbying by the agency, area law enforcement agencies agree to transport rape evidence kits from hospitals to law enforcement labs.

Congress enacts Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), a federal law that provides financial assistance to support a variety of services and activities to assist crimes of crime.

1985

The agency opens the Treasure Chest Thrift Shop (later renamed the Second to None Resale Store).

The United Way invites the agency to open a domestic violence program in Montgomery County.

The Rape Crisis Program establishes a satellite office in Northwest Harris County to provide counseling, support, and advocacy to sexual assault survivors.

The Fort Bend Satellite office merges with the Fort Bend County Women's Center.

Opens a satellite office in the United Way building in Southeast Houston.

1987 – 10th Anniversary

The agency’s Family Violence Outreach becomes the Montgomery County Women's Center.

Marital Rape legislation passes in Texas

1988

Houston Area Women’s Center designs multi-cultural outreach program with 12 cable TV programs.

Agency participates in Texas State Task Force that develops the Texas Evidence Protocol in 1988 (also participating in 1992 when task force reconvenes to make revisions). These protocols became a blue print for other states.

1989

Houston Area Women’s Center holds in-service for lawyers on the legal needs of battered women.     

1990

Due to increasing expansion of services and staff, The Houston Area Women’s Center moves its counseling, administration and education offices to 3101 Richmond.

The Rape Crisis Program begins peer counseling services to survivors.

1991

The Houston Area Women’s Center assists with the creation of the Domestic Violence Unit within the Houston Police Department.

Hires Disabilities Specialist for the Rape Crisis Program with Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) monies.

The Community Education Program begins outreach education in Spanish.

1992

The Safe Harbour Program begins, which provides emergency safe shelter for women in local hotels when all battered women's shelters are full.

The Family Violence Non-Residential Program establishes satellite offices to assist Spanish speaking women in Southwest Harris County and in Spring Branch.

Sexual Assault Outreach Program in the Hispanic community begins. 

1993

The Houston Area Women’s Center supports the passage of the Stalking Legislation in the Texas legislature.

Establishes a Children's Program as part of the Rape Crisis Program to assist child survivors of non-familial sexual assault.

Creates Asian Outreach Committee and begins outreach in the Vietnamese community.

1994

The Houston Area Women’s Center begins a $2 million dollar capital campaign for new counseling and education offices.

African American Outreach begins in the Family Violence Program with the establishment of    satellite sites at Kashmere and Sunnyside Multi-Service Centers.

The agency supports the passage of the National Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to expand training on domestic violence and sexual assault issues, provide protection for battered immigrant women, and allot financial assistance for sexual assault and domestic violence programs.

The agency’s Children's Program successfully establishes a Task Force for Children within the Texas Council on Family Violence.

The Second to None Resale Store moves to 1435 Westheimer and opens a furniture store.

The agency supports legislation in the Texas legislature that eliminates the need for extra evidence in marital rapes.

1995

The Houston Area Women’s Center purchases and renovates new counseling and education building at 1010 Waugh Drive.

Asian Outreach expands to include the Chinese community.

The agency assists with the Media Watch survey--an examination of Houston’s English-speaking media. As a result of the study, the Houston Area Women’s Center develops, designs and prints the first edition of the Guide to Female News Sources.

Begins short term rental assistance program resulting from funding from Child Care Council.

1996

Agency establishes a support group for male survivors of sexual assault.

Agency establishes a support group for battered women in lesbian relationships.

The Houston Area Women’s Center’s Domestic Violence Hotline begins offering crisis counseling in Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese, later expanding to include 6 South Indian languages.

The agency participates in a variety of research studies including a Center for Disease Control study on pregnant, battered women and a CIVITAS study conducted by child trauma programs within Baylor College of Medicine.

1997 – 20th Anniversary

Agency establishes a support group for friends and family members of survivors of domestic violence.

The shelter staff expands to include a career counselor and job development specialist.

Senior staff educates and provides testimony to help the Texas Legislature pass a revised anti-stalking statute.

Agency supports the passage of legislation, designed to aid welfare recipients who are survivors of domestic violence.

1998

Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Programs merge to offer comprehensive violence against women services.

Full-time schools educator develops an anti-violence curriculum for middle and secondary schools. 

Founder's Garden at Waugh Drive is dedicated and contributed by founding Board Members of The Houston Area Women’s Center.

Agency hires an Asian Outreach Coordinator.

Expands Transitional Housing program to offer six months of rental assistance.

Develops Violence Against Women support group, which combines domestic violence and sexual assault issues.

Creates separate Children's Program to provide domestic violence and sexual assault services for children.

Hires an additional legal advocate and two funded legal intern positions.

Develops a Spanish language training for mono-lingual Spanish language volunteers.

Develops a model school based anti-violence curriculum at Furr High School which can be incorporated into sophomore English classes at other high schools.

Begins Job Training Program.

Establishes legal advocacy services. 

1999

The Houston Area Women’s Center begins an $8 million dollar capital campaign to build a new shelter, increasing capacity from 45 to 125 beds.

Implements a new training “When Domestic Violence Comes to Work” to educate employers.

Hotline Services is reclassified and is now a service under the direction of the Direct Services Non-Residential program.

The Association for Women in Communications presents the agency with the Vanguard Award for the Catalyst newsletter.

2000

Domestic Violence Accompaniment Advocacy (DVAA) program begins.

Advocacy Services funded for a Client Attorney.

Establishes a Hot Meal Project to provide Safe Harbour residents with meals at nearby restaurants. Hotline transportation program is renamed to Safe Passage.

Monolingual Speaker’s Bureau training is held in Spanish.

2001

Capital campaign raises $9 million to fund construction of 125-bed residential shelter, creating the largest in the country for woman and child survivors of domestic and sexual assault.

2002 – New 125-bed shelter & support services facility opens.

The Houston Area Women’s Center staff grows to over 120. Shelter houses over 1,500 survivors in its first full year of operation. 

Incorporates Children’s Court Services to focus on advocacy for children, their parents, and caregivers.

2003

The Houston Area Women’s Center is ranked one of best nonprofits in Houston for careful stewardship of contributions by the Better Business Bureau.

2004

The Civil Legal Assistance Program receives $25,000 for two years from Altria to provide services. This program is also selected as a participant in the Outcome Measurements Pilot Project for the Altria Doors of Hope grant-making initiative.

Children's Court Services expands services with Fort Bend County satellite location.

Education and Outreach Services sells over 50 copies of The Houston Area Women’s Center’s training exercise, Walking the Walk, to advocacy agencies in 18 states and U.S. territories.

2005

The Housing Department receives a $300,000 grant to provide housing and supportive services for clients seeking safe and affordable housing options. This three-year grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Supportive Housing Program.

Launches the Houston Men Against Family Violence, a collaborative public awareness campaign with the Houston Police Department designed to encourage men to become involved in violence prevention efforts.

2006

Charity Navigator awards the agency its coveted 4-Star rating for its sound fiscal management and the ability to efficiently manage and grow its finances.

Agency hires a Sexual Assault Services Coordinator to enhance the services provided to adult sexual violence survivors. The agency establishes a Sexual Assault Services Coordinating Committee to address sexual assault services within the agency.

The Adult Sexual Violence Services Program offers a closed incest support group and reinstates a support group for male survivors of sexual assault. In addition, a closed group is offered to address the issues of shame, based on Women and Shame by Brene Brown, Ph.D.

Begins the new Expanded Housing Program for residential clients to receive up to one year of rental and utility assistance. The Expanded Housing Program provides comprehensive case management focusing on budgeting, life skills, and the coordination of necessary resources needed to help clients reach self-sufficiency.

Works with the U.S. Department of Justice to provide domestic and sexual violence education to adult residents and staff in three of Houston's 18 housing communities.

The Education and Outreach Department is chosen to participate in the CDC’s national launch of the Choose Respect Initiative, a primary prevention campaign targeting 11-14 year olds in an effort to educate and encourage youth to develop healthy dating relationships. The agency launches initiative at a Houston Astros Choose Respect game, and successfully implements this curriculum into six area schools.

2007 - 30th Anniversary

Ellen Cohen announced on June 7, 2007 that she would retire from her role as President and CEO of the Houston Area Women’s Center effective December 31, 2007. Cohen, who was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from Houston District 134 in 2006, has served as President and CEO of the agency since 1990.

Closes its Second to None Resale Store on November 30, 2007, while continuing to collect new items through planned donation drives and non-perishable food items.

Launches legislative advocacy web page and email campaign to increase community’s awareness of proposed legislation relating to domestic violence and sexual assault.

2008

Agency hires Rebecca White as the new President and CEO. Previously a senior vice president for community services at Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas, White joined the Women’s Center staff on March 3, 2008.

Education and Outreach Department launches sexual violence primary prevention program and partners with schools, health care providers, and communities to develop community-specific programming aimed at ending sexual assault. .

On December 1, 2008, Children’s Court Services celebrated its 25^th anniversary of assisting child victims/witnesses of crime and their families as they face the criminal justice system.