About

About Guadalupe Valley Family Violence Shelter

Guadalupe Valley Family Violence Shelter, Inc. serves victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking in Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, and Wilson counties. Our emergency shelter can house up to 6 adults and 20 children. We offer a wide range of services to residential and non-residential clients, and all services are always free. GVFVS serves approximately 500 survivors of abuse each year. While our foremost concern is ensuring physical safety, our goal is also to help survivors recover psychologically and emotionally as they build a life free from violence.

With the help of our advocacy and support services, survivors are better able to understand and explore their options with ease of access, in order to make the best informed decisions for themselves and/or their children. With a community-centered focus on empowerment and prevention, GVFVS strives to make recovery as safe and smooth as possible for survivors, while also educating the public on the dynamics and prevention of violence.

Girl Holding Her Mother's Hand — Seguin, TX — Guadalupe Valley Family Violence Shelter, Inc.
Tree — Seguin, TX — Guadalupe Valley Family Violence Shelter, Inc.

HISTORY

Established 1983


GVFVS was established in 1983 as a non-profit corporation to provide services to victims of family violence and sexual assault in Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, and Wilson Counties. Funding in the first year of operation was $39,000.00 received from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), and the original shelter was a leased two-bedroom frame house. In 1984, shelter and support services were provided to 629 adults and children. In 1985, a former nursing home was purchased as a permanent home for the shelter, and the community generously voted to retire the debt on the property the very next year, in 1986. For several years, the only staff were the Executive Director and House Manager. All advocacy services were provided by a host of volunteers. GVFVS has since grown in its capacity to serve victims of crime. Staff now consists of an Executive Director, Assistant Director/Shelter Manager, Legal Advocate, Case Manager/Children’s Advocate, Sexual Assault Advocate, Community Engagement Specialist and Data Manager. Part-time support staff cover nights, weekends, and holidays to ensure that the shelter and hotline are staffed 24/7 to meet clients’ needs.

Share by: