When it comes to domestic violence, most think of only women being victims. However, men too often suffer from relationships that include violence. Recognizing that there was a need to help men and their children, The Family Place opened Texas’ first men’s shelter in 2016. On Friday, July 12, The Family Place celebrated the opening of its new, expanded men’s shelter in Irving with both Family Place and Irving leaders on hand. Here’s a report from the field:
The Family Place — Texas’ largest family violence service agency now in its 46th year — welcomed nearly 30 attendees to the opening of its new emergency shelter facility for men in need of safety from domestic violence on Friday, July 12, at 9 a.m. in Irving, Texas.
Interim CEO Tiffany Tate-McDaniel and Board Chair Harold Ginsburg were joined by board members, supporters, staff members and City of Irving leadership, including Mayor Rick Stopfer, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Webb, City Manager Chris Hillman and Assistant City Manager Philip Sanders.
At the appointed time, Tate-McDaniel welcomed attendees and thanked them for their support of the new, relocated emergency shelter. She shared that the new facility, which replaces an older space with less capacity and functionality, can house up to 16 men at a time and features four bedrooms, two family apartments, a kitchen area, dining room, restrooms, living space, computer/activity room and employee areas. It is the only men’s domestic violence shelter in the nation that houses men with their children.
Men’s shelter Program Director Theresa Little followed sharing that the men’s shelter is a positive safe space for men designed to protect and empower survivors of domestic and family violence. She stated that The Family Place’s programming helps survivors to reclaim their independence and that services received in the shelter include professional case management services, counseling, access to medical care, housing assistance, domestic violence education and prevention, safety planning, LGBTQ+ resources and support and much more.
Mayor Stopfer then thanked The Family Place for their current partnership with the new men’s shelter, before sharing the city’s ongoing commitment to domestic violence services and future plans for a new domestic violence shelter in Irving. He said, “This is a great partnership; I’m excited about it, and we look forward to building on it.”
Ginsburg closed the program by adding his gratitude to all who had worked so hard on making the facility possible. In conclusion, attendees were invited to tour the new facility.
The Family Place first opened its emergency shelter for men and their children in 2016. At the time, it was the first of its kind in Texas and remains one of very few available to men across the country. Prior to opening the shelter, male survivors had to be housed in hotels, which was both costly and not effectively serving the full spectrum of their needs. Now, male survivors are able to receive the same services offered to female survivors, which includes emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling, and skills development.
In 2023, The Family Place served a total of 40 men in the men’s shelter from all over the country. Since the shelter first opened in 2016, The Family Place has served 466 men.
* Photo credit: Elise Jordan