By: Amy Ridings
Imagine what it would be like to live in fear every minute of your life, even while you’re asleep. Imagine having to constantly worry about the safety of your children. Imagine being told every day that you aren’t worth anything better and that nobody will believe you. Imagine not knowing there’s a way out.
For one in three women in Texas and one in four women in the United States, this is a stark reality. But at Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support, we say, “I believe you and there is help and hope.”
Since opening its doors in 1985, Genesis Women’s Shelter has provided safety, shelter and support to thousands of women and children experiencing domestic violence. Genesis is committed to removing every roadblock a woman might face on her journey toward an abuse-free life, with services including an emergency shelter, long-term housing, an onsite K-8 school, daycare, access to legal representation and cutting-edge therapeutics. Genesis provides these life-changing services at no cost and with no strings attached.
Last year alone, we saw nearly 4,000 women and children at our emergency shelter, transitional housing apartments and nonresidential counseling office. The women who come to us are in a fight for their life. We aim to walk alongside each woman and tell her she is not alone and she deserves to feel safe and happy.
Because we receive no government funding, we rely on the support of our community to keep our doors open and our lights on. We are thrilled to announce that for the second year in a row, we are joining forces with The Run Project! New as of this year, runners have the option of selecting a beneficiary, and we are honored to be on the list of deserving nonprofits. When a runner selects Genesis as their beneficiary, all proceeds go directly toward providing life-saving services for women and children who have experienced abuse. We appreciate your support, and look forward to the continued partnership!
“Getting her help is our core mission – from the woman just starting to question if her relationship is abusive to the woman has run out of her house with nothing but the clothes on her back.”
– Jan Langbein, CEO