Women and children are not the only victims of domestic abuse. While it may seem unusual, men also find themselves in need of shelter and assistance in establishing a healthy environment for future growth for themselves and their children.
Dealing with this problem on a limited basis, The Family Place team announced today that it will open the first shelter for male victims of domestic violence in January 2016.
In the past The Family Place has provided shelter for men and their children in hotels averaging a cost of $20,000 per month. According to The Family Place, the program had 19 male clients in September and that was double the total of 2014. This increase is “largely due to the successful Dallas Police Department Lethality Assessment Program and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings‘ efforts to increase awareness.”
According to The Family Place CEO Paige Flink, “A report being released by Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings tonight shows the incredible demand for shelter space and other services for victims of domestic violence. At The Family Place, we are committed to meeting the need to the best of our ability as long as the financial support from the community is there. We cannot do it without their help.”
While “the majority of the funding for this shelter will come from a new Victims of Crime Act grant, The Family Place must raise additional fund from the community.” Funding for the men’s shelter will be “developed concurrently with The Family Place Legacy Capital Campaign.”
A search is currently underway to find a location that will “best serve this population of victims.”