Houston Area Women's Center

The Houston Area Women's Center (HAWC) emerged from the Women's Information and Referral Exchange Service (WIRES) in 1977. The Referral Exchange eventually became a service within HAWC, providing resources to battered women in metropolitan Houston, Texas. The purpose of the Women's Center is to "provide shelter and support services to survivors of sexual assault and family violence…[to] educate and inform the community in order to prevent and eliminate the causes of this violence…[To] empower women to advance their roles, their rights and their well-being." In 1996, HAWC programs fell into three primary areas, Family Violence, Rape Crisis, and Community Education.

Initially, HAWC consisted entirely of volunteers led by former City of Houston Women's Advocate Nikki Van Hightower. As the organization grew, it gained a one-room office in the University of Texas School of Public Health and Nikki Van Hightower became the first Executive Director of HAWC. Along with this growth, services provided by HAWC expanded, including an eleven-bed shelter for battered women and their children. By 1980, HAWC offered support to victims of sexual assault through the Rape Crisis Program (formerly the Houston Rape Crisis Coalition) and purchased a permanent shelter facility with nineteen beds.

Throughout the 1980s, HAWC branched out to provide services to areas surround Houston, continued to develop support programs, and lobbied for changes in state laws and community law enforcement procedures. The Women's Club of Houston donated a facility in 1982, which, after remodeling, accommodated forty-five women and children. During the same year, HAWC opened a domestic violence program in Montgomery County; satellite programs in other parts of Harris County, and Fort Bend County, followed shortly thereafter. The Texas Legislature passed updated sexual assault laws and the Houston Police Department announced a policy calling for arrests in cases of domestic violence during 1983 resulting, in part, from lobbying by HAWC.

The 1990s brought further expansion by HAWC in greater Houston and Texas. The organization again moved to accommodate growing staff and services. Programs expanded to provide benefits from established programs to different sectors within the community. Hispanic Outreach, Asian Outreach, and African-American Outreach programs began between 1992 and 1994. Lobbying activity also increased during the 1990s as HAWC aided in the passage of numerous pieces of legislation, including stalking laws, the National Violence Against Women Act within the Crime Bill, and evidence laws pertaining to marital rapes. During this time, HAWC also assisted with the creation of the Domestic Violence Unit within the Houston Police Department, as well as establishing a Task Force for Children within the Texas Council on Domestic Violence.

From the guide to the Houston Area Women's Center Photographs 1996-009., 1978-1995, (University of Houston Libraries)

The Houston Area Women's Center (HAWC) emerged from the Women's Information and Referral Exchange Service (WIRES) in 1977. The Referral Exchange eventually became a service within HAWC, providing resources to battered women in metropolitan Houston, Texas. The purpose of the Women's Center is to "provide shelter and support services to survivors of sexual assault and family violence…[to] educate and inform the community in order to prevent and eliminate the causes of this violence…[To] empower women to advance their roles, their rights and their well-being." In 1996, HAWC programs fell into three primary areas, Family Violence, Rape Crisis, and Community Education.

Initially, HAWC consisted entirely of volunteers led by former City of Houston Women's Advocate Nikki Van Hightower. As the organization grew, it gained a one-room office in the University of Texas School of Public Health and Nikki Van Hightower became the first Executive Director of HAWC. Along with this growth, services provided by HAWC expanded, including an eleven-bed shelter for battered women and their children. By 1980, HAWC offered support to victims of sexual assault through the Rape Crisis Program (formerly the Houston Rape Crisis Coalition) and purchased a permanent shelter facility with nineteen beds.

Throughout the 1980s, HAWC branched out to provide services to areas surrounding Houston, continued to develop support programs, and lobbied for changes in state laws and community law enforcement procedures. The Women's Club of Houston donated a facility in 1982, which, after remodeling, accommodated forty-five women and children. During the same year, HAWC opened a domestic violence program in Montgomery County; satellite programs in other parts of Harris County, and Fort Bend County, followed shortly thereafter. The Texas Legislature passed updated sexual assault laws and the Houston Police Department announced a policy calling for arrests in cases of domestic violence during 1983 resulting, in part, from lobbying by HAWC.

The 1990s brought further expansion by HAWC in greater Houston and Texas. The organization again moved to accommodate growing staff and services. Programs expanded to provide benefits from established programs to different sectors within the community. Hispanic Outreach, Asian Outreach, and African-American Outreach programs began between 1992 and 1994. Lobbying activity also increased during the 1990s as HAWC aided in the passage of numerous pieces of legislation, including stalking laws, the National Violence Against Women Act within the Crime Bill, and evidence laws pertaining to marital rapes. During this time, HAWC also assisted with the creation of the Domestic Violence Unit within the Houston Police Department, as well as establishing a Task Force for Children within the Texas Council on Family Violence.

From the guide to the Houston Area Women's Center Records 1996-005., 1975-1990, (Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries)

The Houston Area Women's Center (HAWC) emerged from the Women's Information and Referral Exchange Service (WIRES) in 1977. The Referral Exchange eventually became a service within HAWC, providing resources to battered women in metropolitan Houston, Texas. The purpose of the Women's Center is to "provide shelter and support services to survivors of sexual assault and family violence...[to] educate and inform the community in order to prevent and eliminate the causes of this violence...[To] empower women to advance their roles, their rights and their well-being." In 1996, HAWC programs fell into three primary areas, Family Violence, Rape Crisis, and Community Education.

Initially, HAWC consisted entirely of volunteers led by former City of Houston Women's Advocate Nikki Van Hightower. As the organization grew, it gained a one-room office in the University of Texas School of Public Health and Nikki Van Hightower became the first Executive Director of HAWC. Along with this growth, services provided by HAWC expanded, including an eleven-bed shelter for battered women and their children. By 1980, HAWC offered support to victims of sexual assault through the Rape Crisis Program (formerly the Houston Rape Crisis Coalition) and purchased a permanent shelter facility with nineteen beds.

Throughout the 1980s, HAWC branched out to provide services to areas surround Houston, continued to develop support programs, and lobbied for changes in state laws and community law enforcement procedures. The Women's Club of Houston donated a facility in 1982, which, after remodeling, accommodated forty-five women and children. During the same year, HAWC opened a domestic violence program in Montgomery County; satellite programs in other parts of Harris County, and Fort Bend County, followed shortly thereafter. The Texas Legislature passed updated sexual assault laws and the Houston Police Department announced a policy calling for arrests in cases of domestic violence during 1983 resulting, in part, from lobbying by HAWC.

The 1990s brought further expansion by HAWC in greater Houston and Texas. The organization again moved to accommodate growing staff and services. Programs expanded to provide benefits from established programs to different sectors within the community. Hispanic Outreach, Asian Outreach, and African-American Outreach programs began between 1992 and 1994. Lobbying activity also increased during the 1990s as HAWC aided in the passage of numerous pieces of legislation, including stalking laws, the National Violence Against Women Act within the Crime Bill, and evidence laws pertaining to marital rapes. During this time, HAWC also assisted with the creation of the Domestic Violence Unit within the Houston Police Department, as well as establishing a Task Force for Children within the Texas Council on Domestic Violence.

Community education became of paramount importance to the services offered by the Houston Area Women's Center in the nineties, providing education and training to approximately 50,000 in audiences each year. These programs included professional training for law enforcement personnel, and the legal profession among others. The Youth Outreach developed a program in teen dating violence that has been successfully implemented in local middle and high schools. Initially instituted by a group of Rice student volunteers, the program further developed into an established program by trained facilitators reaching thousand students each year. The minority outreach education projects reach Houstonians of Hispanic and Asian descent and are provided in Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese languages. Specialized seminar, workshops, lectures on topics such as working with people with disabilities, cultural awareness are coordinated on as-needed basis.

Ongoing research complements the center activities, including an annual media study to look at sensitivity and awareness of women issues, with an annual publication of a directory of women experts in various fields for local media, and media training programs for different organizations. Media involvement and public relation activities of the center also include public service announcements, press releases and conferences. Other public relation activities with an educational component include the Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Sexual Awareness Month, and the Women's History Month activities. Overall the Houston Area Women's Center Collection provides a record of the organization growth and development, from its start as a small grass roots organization, towards increased professionalism with a complex agenda and organizational structure.

From the description of Houston Area Women's Center records, 1975-1990. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 678041120