Emergency Shelter Program has been caring
for battered and homeless women and their children since
1972. The agency was established by community volunteers
who saw a need for this service. ESP was one of the first
shelters for women and children in the Bay Area.
Emergency Shelter Program assists women
in developing the skills and resources, both personal and
economic, for self-sufficiency.
Emergency Shelter Program provides shelter
and support services to women and their children, who are
homeless for any of the following reasons:
- Domestic Violence
- Financial Hardship
- Eviction
- Family Problems
- Loss of Employment
ESP Provides…
- Shelter and support services to approximately 250-350
women and children, and serves over 30,000 meals per year
- Information and telephone referrals to over 5,000 women
and children per year
- Over 10,000 nights of shelter to women and children
per year
NO ONE DESERVES TO BE ABUSED
in any manner. If you need help or information about domestic
violence, please call ESP.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
is an escalating pattern of abuse which crosses all social
and economic classes, cultural, religious, and educational
backgrounds. Perpetrators exert power and control over their
victims to keep them in a continual state of fear.
ABUSE
CAN BE:
- PHYSICAL – hitting,
slapping, choking, pushing, punching or beating
- SEXUAL –
forcing sex on an unwilling partner, or degrading or demanding
sexual acts the victim does not want to perform
- VERBAL –
humiliating remarks, constant criticism, yelling, swearing
and interrupting
- USING INTIMIDATION or MALE
PRIVILEGE marking up impossible rules and punishing
the victim for break them; creating fear by using looks,
actions and gestures that threaten
- ISOLATING – monitoring telephone
calls, reading mail, controlling where one goes, taking
away car keys, forbidding visits with friends and family
- ECONOMIC CONTROL – preventing
the victim from getting or keeping a job, making her ask
for money, or giving her an allowance
- HARASSING – following or stalking
- DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY – punching
walls, throwing or smashing items, etc.
THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE OCCURS IN
THE FOLLOWING STAGES:
- a VIOLENT EPISODE occurs, followed
by
- a HONEYMOON PHASE in which the perpetrator
attempts to gain forgiveness by offering apologies, gifts,
and promises that “it will never happen again,”
- a TENSION BUILDING PHASE ensues, which
can last hours, days, weeks or months until the next abuse
even occur
The cycle of violence escalates as it continues, the abuse
increasing in intensity and frequency. If you are thinking
of leaving an abusive partner, make a safety plan in advance.
Call ESP or your local Domestic Violence shelter for help
creating a safety plan.
ESP Provides…
- SHELTER in our own home-like facility
which houses 32-40 women and children daily
- FOOD three full meals a day
- 24-HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE someone is available
24 hours per day to talk to you. Call 510.786.1246 or
1.888.339.SAFE
- INFORMATION & REFERRAL is given
to clients, for ongoing community resources
- HOUSING counseling and search assistance
- EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE referrals and
placement assistant as well as job training and referrals
- COUNSELING for domestic violence, homelessness,
and parenting issues
- CHILD CARE & INFANT CARE in our
licensed infant care/preschool, at no cost to shelter
clients. We also provide low cost child care to members
of our community
- HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND CLOTHING from our
stock of community donations
EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAM relies on community
support, individual and business contributions, and funding
from public agencies and private foundations to maintain
and enhance its services.
The mission of ESP is to assist women and their
children in crisis by providing a safe, temporary
home, support services, and hope through empowerment, resulting
in self-sufficient clients who return to the community;
and to help break the cycle of domestic violence
and homelessness.
It is the policy of Emergency Shelter Program, Inc., to
make its services available to all eligible clients. Rules
for acceptance and participation in the program are the
same for everyone without regard to race, color, national
origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) status, age, marital status, familial status,
or handicap.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW
NEEDS SHELTER OR INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL OUR 24-HOUR HOTLINE
(510) 786.1246 or 1.888.339.safe
(7233)
(510) 303-9953 Para Espanol
