YWCA Opens New Shelter In Hopes Of Saving More Lives

Oklahoma ranks third in the nation in the number of women killed as a result of domestic violence. But now many say the opening of a new YWCA shelter will help save some of those lives.

The new shelter is a 27,000 square foot facility, with a state of the art security system, clinic for on-site medical care, and specifically designed children's counseling area. That's in addition to the client rooms where women and their children can find safety from an abusive situation.

“I’m so proud to be part of what we are doing here today,” said an emotional Christy Simmons, “To see the difference in the way it was all those years ago and what we get to do for women today.”

Christy Simmons is a YWCA board member. Twenty eight years ago she was a client.

“We were married only a year when the abuse started.”

She found safety at the YWCA after escaping her husband and near death.

“He broke into my home while I was away and hid in my closet with a 6 ½ inch blade serrated hunting knife and his truck was parked two blocks away with a sheet and a shovel.”

It's unfortunate that a bigger shelter is needed but today's ribbon cutting is a celebration.  The new shelter will be able to help more than twice as many women and their children.  It can house 120 women and their children.

At 55 beds the current shelter is almost always full.

“It’s very difficult for our staff not to have a space and this is going to help with that,” said Jan Peery, YWCA CEO.

And they say those here today will simply translate into lives saved.

“I wish we didn’t need a shelter, but we do,” said Christy.  “We need a way to stop this from happening anymore.”

The YWCA still needs linens and bed sheets for all these new rooms if you would like to help. The YWCA is registered at Target. The first name: YWCA OKC and the last name: YWCA OKC.