A JOURNEY OF HEALING AND HOPE - TOGETHER WE PAVE THE WAY.

Step by Step, A Journey of Hope

Since 1980, Fort Bend Women’s Center (FBWC) has helped over 51,000 survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault to heal from the trauma of their abuse and move forward to independent lives free of violence and fear. As the primary Fort Bend County provider of free, integral support services for survivors we provide 24- hour emergency shelter and a crisis hotline, as well as long term support services including: counseling, case management, legal advocacy, life skills assistance, children’s services, rape crisis services, rental assistance and transportation. These services help save lives every single day. FBWC has seen an increase in the complexity of challenges impacting survivors, spanning across emotional, psychological and physical needs. Many survivors have experienced abuse throughout their lives and have suffered Traumatic Brain Injury due to head trauma and/or strangulation. 97% of clients we serve are at or below the Federal Poverty Level and most have at least one child to support. FBWC has a history of successfully identifying and adopting innovative approaches to victim services to address the trauma of abuse and break the cycle of violence.

Brick by Brick, A Community of Hope

The first step of the journey for a survivor starts with emergency assistance from FBWC that may include temporary shelter and/or safety planning to escape from the abuse.  Helping survivors find a place to live when they are ready to leave the emergency shelter or their abuser, has become increasingly challenging. The shortage of safe, affordable housing with access to support services has been a long-term barrier for survivors and their children to overcome the abuse they have suffered.

In 2018, Fort Bend Women’s Center acquired Rio Bend, a community to help survivors become more confident, achieve self- sufficiency, independence, long term housing stability and increased incomes, in order to break the intergenerational cycle of violence.  

The vision is to provide programs for survivors to gain safety, security, emotional support, and stable living conditions, for them and their children, through ongoing support from advocates, volunteers and donors who are helping pave the way toward successful outcomes.