AWS’s shelter program includes a 24/7 home that meets the needs of residents through a multilingual, multicultural women’s program, children’s program, intensive case management, individual and group support, fun activities, provision of necessities, and connections to outside resources. The location of the shelter is confidential.

We are dedicated to meeting the urgent and immediate needs of survivors of domestic violence and trafficking, with a special focus on non-English-speaking Asian women and their children. AWS services are survivor-centered, holistic, linguistically and culturally competent, offering long-term solutions to ending homelessness, poverty, and domestic violence.

A resident of AWS is provided with:

• Safe, confidential housing
• Emergency services, including food, clothing, and ongoing health services in a safe environment
  
• Language and culturally competent services
• Coordination of support services such as legal advocacy and assistance, transportation, counseling, training/employment, and mentoring
• Follow-up services to both women and children, including resources to establish permanent or transitional housing. We are currently trying to expand these services.

AWS recognizes the overwhelming hardships that survivors face after leaving domestic violence, including homelessness and poverty, as well as immigration and legal hurdles. Therefore, the average stay for AWS residents ranges from 3 to 4 months. However, knowing the complications that our residents face, we do not place a limit on the amount of time a survivor can stay.

Shelter successes

We are proud of the success of our shelter program. 88% of the residents at our shelter are able to maintain transitional or permanent housing away from domestic violence. As a direct result of the services we provide, 100% of our clientele improve their nutrition and health while residing at AWS. There is a huge boon to the financial welfare of our residents; 90% of women increase their monthly income after their stay at AWS, most by more than 75%. 

New services

In recent years, the shelter program expanded to include more services.

For example, in the Children’s Program, a partnership with the Infant Parent Program (IPP) of San Francisco General Hospital has provided AWS with clinical consultation in mental health. Also, in 2003, AWS partnered with Luna Kids Dance to bring dance/movement into the shelter as an innovative way to foster mother-child bonding, child development, and healing from the physical and emotional trauma of abuse. Our creative dance curriculum speaks to the needs and unique circumstances of the population served by AWS. Often, our clients are non-English-speaking women and children who are transient survivors of or witnesses to trauma. We offer two kinds of dance classes: kids-only and mother-child bonding classes. Last year, AWS also implemented a creative-arts component to its women's and children's support groups.