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San Marcos proclaims Domestic Violence Awareness Month; Hayes Caldwell warns of rising need
Summary
Mayor Jane Houston proclaimed October 2025 as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Melissa Rodriguez, CEO of the Hayes Caldwell Women’s Center, told the council the shelter served 434 San Marcos residents last year and that local demand recently rose about 20%, leaving the shelter near capacity and facing financial pressure.
Mayor Jane Houston proclaimed October 2025 as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and recognized local providers for supporting survivors.
Melissa Rodriguez, CEO of the Hayes Caldwell Women’s Center, told the council that last year HCWC provided face-to-face services to more than 1,165 local victims and offered 6,693 days of shelter across its operations. Rodriguez said HCWC served 434 victims from the city of San Marcos specifically and that the center has recently seen an approximately 20% increase in demand for San Marcos domestic-violence services. “We are at capacity almost every day in our shelter,” Rodriguez said, and she urged continued community support while noting the organization is facing difficult financial challenges.
The proclamation acknowledged the systemic nature of intimate-partner violence and called on the San Marcos community to support programs such as HCWC. No formal council action accompanied the proclamation; HCWC used the opportunity to request ongoing community and funding support.
