Houston Area Womens Center Inc

TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE TO MOVE THEIR LIVES FORWARD.

RESIDENTIAL SERVICES: OUR 120-BED RESIDENTIAL SAFE HOUSE IS A REFUGE FOR SURVIVORS FLEEING DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE, INCLUDING SEX TRAFFICKING. OUR COMPREHENSIVE, WRAPAROUND SERVICES INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY/COUNSELING, MENTORING, PARENTING CLASSES, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, LEGAL CLINICS, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT/LIFE-SKILLS WORKSHOPS, JOB AND COMPUTER TRAINING, PERSONAL LIVING SUPPLIES, AND ONSITE COMMUNITY PARTNER SERVICES. WE PROVIDE LICENSED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, A K-5 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND EXTENDED-HOURS AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT ONSITE. OUR CAFETERIA SERVES THREE NUTRITIOUS MEALS PLUS TWO SNACKS DAILY. ALL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN A SECURE AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

HOUSING PROGRAM, COUNSELORS/ADVOCATES REFER CLIENTS TO THE HOUSING PROGRAM AFTER COMPLETING A NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND ELIGIBILITY FORM. THE CLIENT IS ASSESSED FOR ELIGIBILITY BY AN ADVOCATE AND PLACED ON THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATED ACCESS ("DVCA") HOUSING PRIORITY LIST. BASED ON HOUSING ELIGIBILITY AND AVAILABILITY, CLIENTS ON THE DVCA WAITING LIST ARE PROVIDED HOUSING THROUGH OUR COLLABORATIVE DVCA PARTNERS. CLIENTS ENTERING THE HAWC HOUSING PROGRAM ARE PROVIDED WITH A HOUSING ASSESSMENT BY THE HOUSING ADVOCATE TO ASSESS THE CLIENT'S INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND BARRIERS AND CONNECT THEM TO INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL HOUSING PROGRAMS. CLIENTS WHO ENTER HAWC'S HOUSING PROGRAM WILL WORK WITH AN ASSIGNED CASE MANAGER WHILE THEY PARTICIPATE IN THEIR PROGRAM. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATIONS.FOOD ASSISTANCE: FOOD IS PROVIDED TO CLIENTS AT THE RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS AND COUNSELING AND EDUCATION CENTER. THREE MEALS A DAY AND SNACKS ARE PROVIDED TO ADULTS AND CHILDREN AT THE RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS. A SMALL FOOD PANTRY IS PROVIDED TO CLIENTS AT THE COUNSELING AND EDUCATION CAMPUS. ADDITIONALLY, CLIENTS ARE OFFERED GROCERY GIFT CARDS TO SUPPLEMENT THE FOOD PANTRY.TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE IS ALSO PROVIDED TO CLIENTS IN EMERGENCIES WHEN FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR WHEN SEXUAL ASSAULT HAS OCCURRED. HAWC WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE GREATER HOUSTON TRANSPORTATION COMPANY AND ITS AFFILIATED COMPANIES TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO CLIENTS. ADDITIONALLY, CLIENTS MAY BE TRANSPORTED BY BUS FOR LONGER TRIPS WHEN NECESSARY TO TRANSPORT A CLIENT TO A SAFE PLACE. IF NEEDED, HAWC PROVIDES CLIENTS WITH BUS PASSES TO ENABLE CLIENTS TO WORK OR OTHER DESTINATIONS. CLIENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH CAREER DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, AND WHEN FUNDING IS AVAILABLE, CLIENTS MAY RECEIVE DIRECT ASSISTANCE FOR TUITION, JOB-RELATED MATERIALS, AND BOOKS. CAREER COORDINATOR STAFF ASSESSES CLIENTS FOR NEEDS AND REQUESTS FOR RESOURCES. GIFT CARDS ARE PROVIDED TO CLIENTS IN RESIDENTIAL, COUNSELING, AND EDUCATION CAMPUS PROGRAMS. HAWC PROVIDED GIFT CARDS TO CLIENTS WHO MAY HAVE A SPECIFIC NEED AS IDENTIFIED BY THE COUNSELOR/ADVOCATE. GIFT CARDS ARE ALSO DISTRIBUTED TO HAWC CLIENTS DURING SPECIAL OCCASIONS SUCH AS THE WINTER HOLIDAYS. HAWC RECOGNIZES THAT HOLIDAYS ARE CHALLENGING FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE. COUNSELORS/ADVOCATES FOLLOW POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT INCLUDE MEETING WITH CLIENTS TO ASSESS THEIR NEEDS, COMPLETING DOCUMENTATION THAT CONSISTS OF THE CLIENT'S SIGNATURE ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF SERVICES, AND OBTAINING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO COMPLY WITH FUNDING SOURCES. ALL PAYMENTS FOR CLIENT SUPPORT ARE PAID TO THE APPROPRIATE VENDOR.

VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION - COMMUNITY EDUCATION: HAWC'S EDUCATION AND PREVENTION SERVICES FOCUS ON CREATING PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY-BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGIES. HAWC ALSO PROVIDES OUTREACH TO HIGH-NEED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WHERE SURVIVORS WILL LIKELY FACE ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TO ACCESSING HELP. IN ADDITION, VIOLENCE PREVENTION EDUCATORS OFFER PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND PROFESSIONALS THAT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE AND TEACH STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTING IT.