WOMEN'S & CHILDREN'S CRISIS SHELTER
In 1977 a group of community citizens came together in Whittier to learn more about a problem that had just recently been named – domestic violence. The Southern California Coalition on Battered Women had been formed the year before, and communities all across the United States were waking up to this ever-growing problem.
The first thing the committee did was to open a hotline. The calls began almost immediately. But, what to do with the victims? Some of the founders opened up their homes to the fleeing women and children. They knew this was not a long term answer, so in 1978 they rented a house to use as their first shelter.
Since then the Women’s and Children’s Crisis Shelter has been serving victims of domestic violence – women and men - and their children. Our mission is to serve family violence victims with a comprehensive program including crisis shelter, transitional shelter, hotline, children’s programming, and supportive services. As part of our program we collaborate with other agencies to improve overall health, wellness and economic stability; provide culturally relevant and supportive intervention; provide educational information for the prevention of family violence; make available walk-in services such as obtaining temporary restraining orders; hold support groups and parenting classes; and maintain both a 24-hour hotline and a referral line. We operate on a 24-hour basis and all of our programs are free-of-charge.
WCCS was founded on the belief that everyone has the right to a violence-free environment; that violence - actual or threatened – physical, emotional or psychological – has no place in healthy relationships. We are dedicated to helping the victims at whatever stage they are.
Moments in our history:
| 1977 |
Incorporated - First project is the Hotline |
1978
|
Grant from City of Santa Fe Springs provides for rental of shelter to house 4-5 families staffed totally by volunteers. One of the first shelters opened in Los Angeles County |
| 1979 |
Grant from City of Norwalk provides for first paid staff |
| 1980 |
First emergency shelter in Los Angeles County to set up “on site school |
| 1984 |
Grant from City of Whittier aids in purchase of Emergency Crisis Shelter |
| 1987 |
Whittier Unified District provides teacher for on-site school |
| 1993 |
Walk-in site for family violence victims opens in Montebello |
| 1994 |
WCCS brings in bi-lingual (English/Spanish) staff |
| 1994 |
WCCS makes all programs fully bi-lingual (English/Spanish) |
1995
|
WCCS agency staff received “Women of Distinction” award from Soroptimists International for ongoing efforts and commitment in helping women in need |
| 1999 |
Women-In-Transition walk-in center moves to City of Pico Rivera |
| 2001 |
Stella’s Friendship House, a post-transitional housing program for low-income battered women and their children established |
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