Houston Area Women's Center Opens Transformative Campus for Survivors of Violence

The Houston Area Women's Center has officially opened One Safe Place Houston, a transformational 5.5-acre campus designed to offer safety, dignity, and wraparound support to survivors of domestic and sexual violence and sex trafficking through comprehensive, trauma-informed services all in one location. This new temporary supportive housing will triple HAWC's capacity, increasing in phases to ultimately provide safety and support for up to 350 survivors, representing a bold response to the urgent need for integrated, survivor-centered services in Houston.

The campus includes 135 supportive housing apartments for survivors and their families, alongside comprehensive on-site services such as behavioral health counseling, legal advocacy, medical forensic care, childcare, a Houston ISD elementary school, community gathering spaces, workforce readiness, and financial literacy programs within a highly secure, thoughtfully designed environment. Sonia Corrales, Interim President & CEO at HAWC, emphasized that "Safety is the first step—but healing, empowerment, and rebuilding are what make lasting change possible," noting that One Safe Place Houston reflects the community's deep commitment to survivors and collective belief that everyone deserves to heal with dignity.

GSMA Architects, a Houston-based architecture firm known for its civic and community-centered work, led the design of the campus with a vision that prioritized dignity, safety, and healing—transforming traditional shelter models into a restorative and empowering environment. Ann Rosenwinkel, AIA, LEED BD&C, stated that "Spaces tell stories. This one tells survivors that they matter—that they are safe, supported, and surrounded by a community that sees their strength." The firm brought deep intentionality to the design, imagining every apartment, corridor, and shared space in partnership with survivor advocates and frontline staff to create a trauma-informed, welcoming campus that balances privacy with connectivity.

CORT Furniture Rental partnered with HAWC to furnish the entire campus, ensuring that every residential, counseling, and common area is equipped with high-quality, multi-functional furnishings that meet the needs of residents and staff. Todd Shell, CORT National Director of Supportive Housing, expressed that "Our goal is to help create spaces that uplift and support people. We're honored to play a part in a project that will have such a lasting impact on families and on Houston as a whole." The furnishings help make One Safe Place Houston feel like a home rather than just a facility, contributing to the overall healing environment.

One Safe Place Houston represents a public commitment to the safety and wellbeing of survivors in Houston at a time when intimate partner violence and sexual assault remain deeply rooted public health and safety issues. The campus offers a coordinated response that reflects what's possible when organizations, design experts, community partners, advocates, corporate and civic leaders, and community members come together to build not just a shelter, but a future where survivors don't have to choose between silence and survival. As Corrales noted, "Thoughtful architecture and furniture design are not just aesthetic choices—they are part of a public health strategy that fosters safety, dignity, and healing for everyone who walks through the doors of One Safe Place Houston."