In 1983 an historic home was offered as a donation to REACH to be used as a shelter.  The home had to be moved to a new lot.  State Senator R.P. “Bo” Thomas sought funds to help move the house.  The NC State Legislature appropriated Five thousand dollars.  However, after research the idea was abandoned due to the high expense of moving the house.  The state agreed REACH could use the appropriated funds toward the opening of a Shelter.  Additional funds were sought from the NC Legislature and Levi Strauss Foundation and in early 1984 a house was rented.  The Shelter was a 6-bedroom house that was in bad repair.  The community and battered women themselves joined together to make the house livable.  When the shelter opened a focus of services was expanded to include counseling, support groups and community education. REACH, Inc., the Department of Social Services and Developmental Evaluation Center created a puppet show that was performed in the public schools on child abuse and neglect prevention.

After two years in the old house REACH began to look for a house to purchase as a shelter.  Although the house was in good repair continual improvements have been made to improve the facility.  Children’s playroom and playground were developed, a porch closed in for offices, security system purchased, new roof, basement remolded, and vinyl siding added.  In 1997 renovations were completed that included paint and new carpet for all rooms.

Families coming to the Reach, INC shelter have left their homes in search of a safe space to try to understand what keeps going wrong in their homes and to find resources and options available. This is pivotal point in their lives because they are reaching a turning point seeking positive change. The Shelter provides the greatest opportunity for this because it is the resident’ temporary place of peace and safely.

Family Abuse and violence is extremely complex. The cycle that moves a man for the façade of the perfect and loving husband to a hurtful abuser is confusing to everyone, especially the women and children who live in the vacillating word that is constantly moving from to pain, happiness to sorry, and security to entrapment. It happens in all classes, cultures, and religions. Women want to understand and they want to know what their options are.

These families are the most vulnerable, women in a difficult crisis situation, fleeing their homes and belongings due to abuse. They are facing an unforeseen combination of circumstance that call for immediate action, which is why the shelter is the perfect place.

With 24-hour staff coverage women receive education, resources, support and a safety net of crisis service and basic needs right in the safety of our shelter. Through intervention of Reach, INC Shelter Advocates and the comprehensive programs there is opportunity to intervene in and break that cycle.