Victims of intimate partner violence often have to sacrifice their livelihood to escape to a safer environment. For many, this means leaving everything they are familiar with like their homes, neighborhoods and even cities. To escape the abuse, survivors often have to restart their lives from nothing by securing new housing and replacing all of…

The correlation between domestic violence and homelessness has continued to be studied due to the undeniable data that correlates the two. Because of the nature of domestic violence, victims are often subject to leave home due to safety concerns, leading them to seek shelter or a temporary living space. Often, this means victims have to…

This is a guest blog written originally for and by Thy Black Man. You can view the original version here. Have you ever heard the expression “a Proverbs 31 wife”? A list of model attributes for wives to display, Proverbs 31 evokes many and varied feelings in men and women alike. Unfortunately, some men can start to feel that their…

Through my work at Genesis Women’s Shelter, I have found that working as an advocate in a domestic violence shelter is not just a job – it’s a calling. In social services, advocates seek to ensure that the most vulnerable in society are supported in exploring choices and options. We do this by defending and…

Intimidation by use of coercion/threats, emotional abuse, financial abuse and physical violence are all tactics that abusive individuals use on their partners regardless if the abuser is in a heterosexual or same-sex relationship. Domestic violence does not distinguish between sexuality; however, members of the LGBTQ community often face additional hurdles that do not exist in…

What is an “intake appointment?” If you have ever called Genesis Women’s Shelter or another counseling agency to request services, you may have heard that you need an intake appointment. Put simply, an intake is therapist lingo meaning an initial appointment to gather basic information about you and your background while you learn more about…

In the age of social media and crowdfunding, it’s easier than ever to support causes close to your heart! Facebook has created Facebook Birthdays, a convenient and simple platform for its users to set up fundraisers and invite friends and family to make a charitable contribution in lieu of (or in addition to!) birthday presents.…

You finally separate or get a divorce from your abuser and you think it’s all over, but then…. For many survivors of domestic violence, the feeling of relief after separating or divorcing an abusive partner doesn’t last long. After separation, the abuser often starts to escalate as a result of having less control over his…

This is a guest blog written originally for and by Denton County Friends of the Family. You can view the original version here. The intersection of homelessness and domestic violence is the connection of two extraordinarily serious social issues facing communities. Survivors fleeing abusive relationships often must leave their homes, with no other available housing…