HomeAid to Add New Housing at Fort Bend Women’s Center

FORT BEND WOMEN’S CENTER TO GAIN NEW HOUSING WITH HOMEAID HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP

Fort Bend Women’s Center (FBWC), the area’s primary provider of free, integral support services for survivors of abuse, is planning to add additional housing to their Rio Bend campus, that will ultimately include four beds for domestic abuse and sexual assault survivors.  HomeAid Houston is leading the search for a Builder Captain to construct the 3225 sq. ft. one-bedroom four-plex.

For four decades, 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 ten 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.

“HomeAid has launched into 2021 with a number of construction projects on the agenda,” said Carole Brady, executive director of HomeAid Houston.  “Fort Bend Women’s Center is an ideal fit for us.  Currently we are in search-mode to identify a builder that will share our vision to provide the additional shelter these women need for recovery. We hope to solidify the process in the coming months.”

Fort Bend County is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. In 2016, there were 3,265 reported incidents of family violence and 245 sexual assaults. In 2017, 136 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.

“We are very excited about working with HomeAid to make the Rio Bend dream a reality,” said Vita Goodell, executive director of FBWC. “Together, we’ll be building a place where domestic violence survivors and their kids can heal and thrive.”

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.

HomeAid Houston, a 501 c 3 charity of the Greater Houston Builders Association, has been building transformational housing for homeless care agencies throughout Houston and surrounding counties since 2003.  The first shelter was dedicated in 2005.  Since then, more than 70 projects, both large and small have been completed, adding over 400 beds and over $14 million in real estate construction and improvements to Houston’s homeless community.  For more information about HomeAid Houston visit www.homeaidhouston.org or call 281-970-8970.