History
In 1977, Ann Whitehead, a local social worker, 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, together with faith, determination, and $400, opened the Battered Women's Shelter of Bexar County on March 8, 1977. The three-bedroom house on San Antonio's northside was immediately filled to capacity. Concerned citizens raised money, collected food, clothing, and diapers and operated the shelter on a day-to-day basis for the first year. With the demand for services increasing, the shelter moved to a larger building south of downtown where it remained for 24 years.
By the mid-eighties, comprehensive literature had been developed. Which increased community awareness on family violence and prompted public funding for family violence programs. As women revealed their stories, it was soon realized that the victims's needs exceeded mere shelter. Many victims had witnessed violence in their homes as children and statistics pointed to a pattern of abuse. In 1987 The Battered Women's Shelter of Bexar County initiated a program to break the cycle of violence. The Shelter began an intervention process directed at both women and children that would help in breaking the cycle of abuse. The process directed at both women and children were identified and programs were established to meet these needs (i.e. transitional housing, long term supportive services, non-residential counseling, medical services, legal services, educational opportunities, etc). Over the years, collaboratives were formed to help facilitate clients' ability to access these services.
The Shelter has become a model for the nation by introducing innovative programs designed to help women and children become more self-sufficient. For the first time, women have reasonable choices. They do not have to return to the abuser because they do not have options available to them.
In May of 2002, staff and clients moved into the La Paloma de la Paz, a new 120 - bed shelter complex that incorporates a school, a medical/dental clinic, and two transitional housing duplexes. La Paloma de la Paz is located on property that comprises a complex of residential and supportive services that collectively can provide cost reduction, synergy of services, and greater choices for all of our clients.