The Big Bend’s emergency shelter for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence is having to turn away 100 people per month. Refuge House Executive Director Emily Mitchem says there aren’t enough beds to meet the need.
Mitchem says they’re seeing an “alarming increase” in the number of people reaching out to Refuge House for safe shelter. She points to housing insecurity and economic pressures as drivers for the recent surge.
“This is either forcing victims to stay longer with their abuser or they’re having to go and enter homelessness because they don’t have any place to go,” she says.
The program can sometimes help victims flee to another community or put them up briefly in a hotel room.
Mitchem says the lack of affordable housing has made it harder for Refuge House to accept new clients. So, the program will kick off a capital campaign in August to expand its beds and services.
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