Domestic Violence Resource Center - Taylorsville, NC

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Safe shelter was made available to residents of Alexander County in July, 2003. Prior to this time, those needing shelter were relocated to surrounding counties that provided shelter.

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The inconvenience of moving to another county made the choice to leave an unsafe home harder. The DVRC recognized the need for a safe haven where women and children could live without the fear of abuse.

The Safe Shelter is here for you and we encourage you to seek SAFE SHELTER as soon as possible. Below is a checklist for Personal Safety & Home Security.

Personal Safety/Home Security
for Victims of Domestic Violence

Each door and window should always be locked, whether you are at home or away for a period of time.

If you have obtained a protective order, it is preferred that you change your locks.

Install dead bolts on all outside doors. Place a brace in sliding glass doors and windows.

While at home, never automatically open the door after the first knock. If you have children, caution them to ask who is there or peer through a peephole. An abuser may use various ploys to seek entry into your home.

If you arrive at home to find a window or door has been forced open or broken, do not enter! Locate a telephone nearest you and dial 911 and wait for law enforcement to arrive.

Install adequate outside lighting. Motion-detector lights are especially effective and when activated make the person on the outside think that someone on the inside of the home has heard or seen them.

Be alert of any unusual packages, boxes, etc. Do NOT disturb these objects.

A family dog is the least expensive, but most effective alarm system.

If you receive telephone calls from the person who is ordered by a protective order not to have contact with you, notify law enforcement as soon as possible. A report should be made to document the act. Remember to keep log of the date, time and contents of the telephone calls made to you. This is beneficial for prosecution of the offender.

Change your telephone number to a new unlisted number if possible. You may also consider getting Caller-I .D. and Call-Block to further prevent unwanted contact. You may consider an answering machine in order to screen your incoming calls and record any threatening or prohibited calls from the abuser.

Advise you family, friends and co-workers they are not to give your new telephone number to anyone without your permission.

Keep important phone numbers posted at or near every telephone in your home; tape emergency numbers on every phone.

If you reside in an apartment, provide the manager with a picture of the suspect if available.

Women need shelter for many reasons. Often, an abusive mate will choose to live in an area away from family and friends. This removes the support system that is so vital for women seeking to escape.

Finances are usually controlled by the abuser, which leaves little resources for securing a safe home away from the abuse. Threats of having the children taken away by Social Services are another tactic used by abusers to keep their mates at home. Safe shelter is an opportunity for the woman to make life choices that insure her safety and well-being. Shelter for abused men can be arranged by the staff of DVRC. Services for both genders are the same.

The location for the shelter is undisclosed for the safety of all who live and work there. The shelter consists of 2 bedrooms, each furnished with 2 sets of bunk beds, a community living room, kitchen, laundry and bathroom.

Families are housed together in one bedroom if at all possible. Each resident is given a personal hygiene packet containing soap, shampoo, deodorant, razor, toothbrush and toothpaste upon entering shelter. All food or household goods are supplied free of charge.

While in shelter, the resident is supported by each staff member. Resources are provided to aid in making the transition to independent living.

The shelter is staffed 24 hours a day and is secured by alarms and videotape monitoring. Entrance to the shelter is obtained after an office appointment to determine eligibility.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

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Domestic Violence Resource Center
Post Office Box 652 - Taylorsville, NC 28681
Supporting victims in Alexander County
Office: 828-635-8850