Women's Center emergency shelter in desperate need of funding

Shelter at capacity and funding cut

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The emergency shelter at the Montgomery County Women's Center is at capacity and with recent funding cuts, battered lives are on the line as more victims of domestic abuse and violence are desperate for help.

“We are at full capacity almost every night – young mothers with babies running for their lives, older women escaping a lifetime of abuse, career women with teenage children who cannot live through one more day of chaos and violence,” explains Sarah Raleigh, Executive Director of Montgomery County Women’s Center, which serves victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and abuse through crisis intervention, emergency safe shelter, counseling support, legal advocacy and transitional housing.

Having recently learned that a major funding source for its emergency shelter for battered women and children has been cut in half, the Montgomery County Women’s Center is fiercely stepping up their summer appeal for financial contributions as well as item donations.

“In light of the strained economy, governmental organizations have been reducing their grants and funding for many non-profits across the board. For us, this fifty-percent cut is significant because lives are on the line,” she said.

The shelter houses up to 60 individuals needing a second chance at life, offering a safe haven 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Annually, almost 800 residents of the shelter stay for up to 60 days and pay no fees for any of the services they receive. These clients are provided with clothing and needed household items, free of charge, from the agency’s resale shop.

Recently, the shelter has had in residence strangulation and stabbing victims as well as a small child with two broken arms. In May alone, the agency received thirty sexual assault calls and more than 1,000 calls to the crisis hotline.

“We are desperately pleading with the community to please contribute during our summer appeal, which is our major fundraising effort,” continues Raleigh. “Any amount, even ten dollars, can help us make up the gap. We also need clothing, furniture, beds, and household items for our resale store, ‘Something Special,’ which is open to the public, but is also a crucial resource to our clients and their children to access items for their needs. And, our food pantry is critically low.”

Raleigh said the timing couldn’t be worse, as the nine-year-old shelter needs major maintenance and several repairs.

Anyone interested in making a contribution can mail a check payable to Montgomery County Women’s Center to 1401 Airport Rd, Conroe TX, 77301 or donate via credit card through their website by clicking the Donate Now button on the home page.

Clothing, toys, furniture and household items can be donated to the Something Special resale store located at 19073 I-45 South, near the Sam’s Club in the Portofino Shopping Center, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Montgomery County Women’s Center is a 501C 3 nonprofit, private organization. For more information about the Montgomery County Women’s Center, please call 281 292-4155 x 231 or the 24-hour crisis hotline at 936 441-7273, or visit the link below.