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San Marcos proclaims Domestic Violence Awareness Month; Hays Caldwell Women’s Center warns of rising demand
Summary
Mayor proclaimed October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month; Melissa Rodriguez of Hays Caldwell Women’s Center said the center has seen a 20% increase in San Marcos clients, is near shelter capacity and faces financial strain, and urged continued community support.
The mayor proclaimed October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and called on the community to support programs that assist survivors. The proclamation referenced statewide impacts of intimate-partner violence; the transcript contains garbled figures for some statewide statistics, so exact numbers were not specified in the record.
Melissa Rodriguez, CEO of the Hays Caldwell Women’s Center, told the city the center recorded a 20% increase in domestic-violence clients from San Marcos and is operating near capacity in its emergency shelter. "We are at a capacity almost every day in our shelter," Rodriguez said, adding the center faces "really difficult financial challenges moving forward" and urging ongoing community support.
Rodriguez also encouraged residents to observe a local "wear purple" day next Thursday and to tag photos to raise awareness. The proclamation thanked the center for its services and called attention to the need for continued partnerships to address domestic and teen dating violence.
The meeting did not include a city action—such as new funding or a vote—to address the financial challenges Rodriguez described; the center’s request was framed as an appeal for community support and partnership rather than a formal request for city appropriation.
