HomeAid Houston recently broke ground on a one-bedroom 3225 sq. ft. building that will provide 4 new beds for Fort Bend Women’s Center (FBWC), in the Fort Bend area. HomeAid is joining Greg Wamhoff and David Bozeman with Wamhoff Design/Build, the two builder captains of the project to launch construction.
FBWC is the area’s primary provider of free, integral support services for survivors of abuse at their Rio Bend campus. This four-plex will ultimately include four beds for domestic abuse and sexual assault survivors
Dozens of FBWC supporters were on-hand at the site for the groundbreaking celebration. They included representatives from the George Foundation that invests in Fort Bend County to enhance the community and the quality of life of those in need through grants to local nonprofits and scholarship opportunities for aspiring local students. They were joined by FBWC and HomeAid Houston board members and staff, the builder and the architects of the project.
FBWC Executive Director Vita Goodell opened the event with a welcome and remarks followed by guest speakers who included Nicole Jacob, president of HomeAid Houston, Carole Brady, executive director of HomeAid Houston and Lindy Oliva, president of PulteGroup and a Greater Houston Builders Association board member. The guests then gathered for the official groundbreaking with 10 gold shovels.
“We made it to this stage today because of the dreams of dozens and dozens of thoughtful, generous, determined and committed people who shared the same vision,” said Jacob. “A famous quote sums up the best, where we are today, ‘Nothing every comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.’ This hard work by all here today, proves anything is possible.”
FBWC has helped almost 50,000 survivors of traumatic abuse to heal and move forward to live independent lives free of violence and fear. Over the past eleven years, the agency has been serving survivors with increasingly complex emotional, psychological and physical needs. Many have experienced abuse throughout their lives and have suffered Traumatic Brain Injury due to head trauma and/or strangulation. 97% are at or below the Federal Poverty Level and most have at least one child to support.
Fort Bend County is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. In 2021, there were 4,305 reported incidents of family violence in Fort Bend County. In 2020, 183 women in Texas were killed by their intimate male partner. When survivors access emergency shelter and are ready to move on to independence, they face barriers to securing affordable housing. A study of residents in domestic violence shelters nationwide found that 84 percent of survivors needed help finding affordable housing.
FBWC offers 24- hour emergency shelter and a crisis hotline, as well as long term support services including: counseling, case management, legal advocacy, employment and education assistance, children’s services, rape crisis services, rental assistance and transportation. These free services help save lives every day. To access information regarding services, call 281-342-HELP.