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Houston council proclaims October Domestic Violence Awareness Month, highlights expanded Hawk and AVDA services
Summary
Councilmembers and the mayor proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, spotlighting a new 5.5-acre Houston Area Women’s Center campus with 24-hour services and AVDA’s 44-year legal advocacy; both organizations urged residents to share hotline resources and attend fundraisers.
Mayor John Whitmire and members of the Houston City Council on Oct. 2 proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and recognized two local service providers, the Houston Area Women’s Center (Hawk) and Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA), for their work serving survivors.
Councilmember Kamen led the proclamation citing national and state statistics on intimate-partner homicide and noted the city’s investment in expanding shelter and wraparound services. Kamen asked colleagues and listeners to publicize help lines and resources, saying the goal is to “destigmatize conversations” so survivors “understand that they are not victims. They are survivors.”
Emily Whitehurst, chief executive officer of Hawk, thanked the mayor and council for support as the nonprofit prepares to open a secure, 5.5-acre campus that the organization says will provide 24‑hour access, emergency shelter and “all the wraparound services that anybody could ever want and need.” Whitehurst said the new facility will be both secure and publicly known, improving access while maintaining survivor safety.
Maisha Coulter, speaking for AVDA, described the organization’s 44 years of legal advocacy, batterer-intervention programming and counseling. Coulter reminded the room that AVDA helps survivors obtain protective orders and legal representation in family-court matters; she also noted AVDA’s billboard campaign and corrected the number printed on recent outreach materials, giving the public the correct local hotline (713‑224‑9911).
Councilmembers and the mayor emphasized partnerships with law enforcement and community groups. Kamen and others credited coordinated city efforts begun during the pandemic that expanded crisis resources and established the mayor’s Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence. The mayor read the proclamation designating Oct. 1 as Domestic Violence Awareness Day in Houston.
The proclamations closed with invitations to community events: AVDA’s Home Safe Home gala on Oct. 15 and Hawk’s public information about its 24/7 hotline and campus services. Council members consistently urged residents to share hotline numbers and to seek confidential, free assistance if they or someone they know is in danger.
The council did not take any formal legislative action tied to the proclamations during this meeting; officials directed interested residents to the organizations’ websites and to city staff for follow-up on services and referrals.
