The
Women's Center provides emergency shelter on a 24-hour basis to battered women
and their children in local motels and in the Center's own shelter facility.
The
Center owns the shelter facility, a 15-bed residence located at a confidential
address in Placerville. The shelter is fully ADA compliant and accessible
to those with disabilities. Since the Center is unable to afford 24-hour
shelter staffing, the shelter can only accept 10-12 residents at one time.
Daytime staffing consists of a full-time Shelter
Coordinator, 2 Shelter Counselors assisted by volunteers. and a weekend Shelter
Counselor who spends 10 hours at the shelter.
Volunteers provide evening coverage 3 to 5 nights each week. Domestic
violence victims may spend up to 60 days in shelter and receive counseling,
food, art-play therapy for children, assistance with social services, income
replacement, job searches, legal services, transportation, housing assistance,
computer literacy training, resume preparation/distribution, and parenting
skills.
Children
of both sexes and all ages are welcome if they are able to keep the shelter
location confidential. Children's art-play therapy, a large play room and
extensive outside play area are available. Staff are able to enroll
children in other schools if safety is an issue or they can remain in their
previous school. Operational Agreements are maintained with several
districts.
