Emergency Shelter Program, Inc.
Restore Hope - Overcome Violence

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)