Domestic Violence Resource Center was established in October 1975 in Beaverton as Women Together, a community-based social group started by a domestic violence survivor that decided to address the needs of battered women in Washington County, Oregon. Incidentally, October is the National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
In 1977, the group received a large grant under the Comprehensive Education and Training Act (CETA), and hired four staff to provide services for survivors out of a tiny office in Hillsboro. The new organization adopted the name BEWARE, which stood for Battering Ended With Advocacy, Research and Education. The group promoted advocacy and empowerment as a way to end domestic violence, focusing on creating and providing opportunities in employment and education. According to Elena Uhing, one of BEWARE’s first staff members and a current Forest Grove city councilor, the group started out with a desk and a used typewriter.
In 1979, the group was offered a donation of a house and received a large grant to open the County’s first domestic violence shelter. To reflect the new focus and services, the organization changed its name in 1980 to SHELTER/A Resource for Battered Women. In 1982, another name change occurred, to SHELTER/Domestic Violence Resource Center. A 24-hour crisis line was also added. The Family Violence Intervention Program, a counseling and support group program, was established in 1986 with the help of the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services grant.
The late 1990s brought a dramatic expansion of services. In 1999, the old shelter building was sold, and another, bigger one acquired and remodeled with the help of Washington County Community Development Block Grant and a number of other generous donations. In October 2000 the shelter was renamed Monika’s House, in honor of Monika Voits who had been murdered by her husband on January 4, 1999. The Restraining Order Advocacy Program also began operating at the Washington County Courthouse in conjunction with Washington County Center for Victims’ Services.
In 2001, the agency underwent the final name change to its current form, Domestic Violence Resource Center. In 2004, the agency headquarters moved from the office in downtown Hillsboro to a more adequate space in the County’s Silicon Forest.
Domestic Violence Resource Center remains Washington County’s sole provider of services specifically to victims and survivors of domestic violence.
Note: We are looking for our “founders” and anyone who can provide more detail about our history. If you are or know one of such people, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us here.
Over the years, we’ve assisted thousands of people affected by domestic violence regain control over their lives. We invite you to join the community of our supporters.
Consider this example of what your contribution can help accomplish: after receiving our counseling services, Julie J., a domestic violence survivor, said, “I will not allow anyone to ever abuse me again.”
Your tax-deductible contribution will go toward helping people like Julie reach that point. Thank you for your generosity.
