ABSTRACT

With the growing recognition of the fact that wife battering is a recurring problem for many American women, the late 1970s ushered in the long overdue emergence of publicly and privately funded shelters and other crisis intervention services to aid the victims of domestic violence. Women's shelters offer victims an alternative to their problematic situation, they are viewed by some members of society as "homewreckers." These critics of women's shelters have difficulty with the philosophy of separation, divorce, and the possible breakup of the family unit. literature on domestic violence shelters is not clear on the role(s) that these facilities play in the community. The battered woman must assess her marital situation, including the anticipated outcomes and consequences of her actions, and make a decision about her future. It is recognized that battered women need a safe place to stay while they recover from violent beatings.