Family Services of Southeast Texas doubling shelter size

But on July 31, 2024, Family Services, which has been serving the area since 1931, is set to open a new domestic violence shelter, said Director of Community Relations Bonnie Spotts.

The shelter will house 144 men, women and children seeking safety from domestic or sexual violence -- more than doubling the current capacity of 68 people. There will be 17 family rooms, 17 single rooms, one male single room and a male family room.

The shelter will include a recreational room with toys for children, conference rooms for group activities, two playgrounds, a covered outdoor area and walking trails.

The $10 million to construct the new facility comes to the agency through a federal grant, Spotts said.

"We got money through the (American Rescue Plan), a grant that had to do with COVID and all that stuff, but it was money that was given to all the cities and counties to you know, help with infrastructure and just help getting everything together and staff and as you know, mental health facility and also a place for the homeless and all that we qualified."

Should the new shelter not be built, Family Services will continue to lose money on electrical and pipe issues, in addition to problems that already have arisen based after severe weather.

Every time the shelter floods or a pipe bursts, Family Services staff has to find another shelter or a hotel that can take residents.

"Staff have to secure their homes early and make preparations for their families because the shelter residents have to be accompanied and supervised 24-hours a day wherever they are," Spotts said. "We have to rent a (commercial bus) to transport our families and leave well before any evacuation is formerly issued to our area."

The shelter is available to anyone -- no evidence needed -- based simply on a call to Family Services.

The agency can send police assistance or an Uber to individuals who need help getting to the shelter, or potential shelter residents can meet staff members in a public place to minimize the potential for violence that often comes when leaving an abusive situation.

"Many of our clients either have been homeless or going to be homeless and one of the things that we help them to do is find housing affordable housing," Spotts said.

She recalls one situation in particular, where a woman sought help from the agency after dating a man from her gym. After about a month, he became possessive and jealous and even broke her phone. After she ended the relationship, the man showed up at her residence, kicked her and stomped on her head while wearing steel-toed boots, leaving the woman with permanent brain damage. 

And that's just one of the shelter's former residents. Since 2008, 36,850 domestic violence calls have been made to the Beaumont Police Department -- nine of which ended in homicide.

Spotts said that number likely only accounts for half the city's domestic violence victims, as so few individuals report their experiences.

"I am looking forward to not having to worry every time a storm in brewing, and knowing our families will be safe without having to move them in most situations," Spotts said.

In addition to the domestic violence shelter, Family Services of Southeast Texas provides anger management and battery intervention and prevention classes, in addition to a counseling center, which operates at a reduced fee, along with many other classes.

Classes like these give attendees tools to live independently from an abuser -- another class offered by the center.

megan.zapalac@beaumontenterprise.com

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