New Location in Southern Dallas
New location will better meet the needs of underserved survivors – and specifically Black women – in the DFW Metroplex
Since opening its doors in 1985, Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support has provided safety, shelter and support to women and children who have experienced domestic violence. In order to better meet the needs of survivors across the entire Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Genesis today announced the opening of a new non-residential facility. Located at 5020 South Lancaster Road, the new location will offer advocacy, individual and group counseling, access to childcare while mom is receiving services, and referral to both legal services and emergency shelter. In addition, adjacent to the Lancaster counseling office will be a new thrift store, which will allow Genesis clients to shop for free. The new thrift store location will also sell gently-used items to the community as a whole at a discounted price. The new location is expected to open in the fall of 2021.
Genesis Women’s Shelter believes that everyone deserves a life free from violence, regardless of ethnicity. However, systematic racism is unfortunately very much a reality in America. People of color often have more challenges to overcome in terms of education, the legal system and employment, and we know the same to be true of abuse. While domestic violence is prevalent across all races, African American females experience intimate partner violence at a rate 35% higher than that of white females. And, Black women are less likely to call the police for fear of police brutality against their partners or themselves, and more likely to be arrested after calling the police than women of other racial and ethnic groups.
The 75216 ZIP code, where the new Lancaster office is located, is ranked in the top five of Dallas ZIP codes of population percentage that identifies as African American (78%). By expanding into this corridor, Genesis is hoping to make its services more accessible to Black women. “Because the very foundation of domestic violence is based on power and control, until we break the chains of violence in the home, there can be no equity in the community,” said Jan Langbein, CEO of Genesis Women’s Shelter. “We are committed to providing a safe space, and it is our hope that by opening the new Lancaster office, we will better meet the needs of underserved survivors – and specifically Black women – in the DFW Metroplex.”
Across all of its locations, Genesis offers emergency shelter, transitional housing, cutting-edge therapeutics, advocacy, legal services, an onsite K-8 school and more – everything needed for a survivor to take her first steps toward an abuse-free future. Each year, Genesis Women’s Shelter serves more than 3,700 women and children. These life-changing services are free and confidential, and offered in both English and Spanish with no strings attached.
“Genesis Women’s Shelter provides hope and healing for some of the most vulnerable in our community,” said Effie Dennison, EVP, Director of Community Development and Corporate Social Responsibility at Texas Capital Bank. “Texas Capital Bank is proud to support the important work they do every day to put an end to domestic violence and provide respite for victims. We congratulate Genesis on this new location where even more women can find the support they need.”
To learn more about the new South Dallas office, check out this one-minute video from the 2021 Genesis Annual Luncheon keynote speaker and award-winning actress, Octavia Spencer. For a photo of the new building, visit https://www.genesisshelter.org/lancaster/.
If you or someone you know may be experiencing domestic violence, Genesis’s emergency hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling or texting 214.946.HELP (4357).
About Genesis
Since opening its doors in 1985, Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support has provided safety, shelter and expert counseling services to women and children who have experienced domestic violence. Genesis is committed to removing every roadblock a woman might face on her journey to the abuse-free life she deserves. These life-changing services include an emergency shelter, long-term housing, an award-winning onsite, K-8 school, daycare, access to legal representation and cutting-edge therapeutics. Genesis serves more than 3,700 women and children each year, and relies on the generous support of the Dallas community to continue providing these services at no cost to clients. For more information, visit www.genesisshelter.org.