Womencare Shelter

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→ Herstory

Womencare’s Herstory &
Domestic Violence Milestones

This timeline lists, in chronological order, the significant benchmarks of events related to domestic violence in the United States and adjoins them to events in the “herstory” of Womencare in Whatcom County.

The 1970s

1972
~ Women’s advocates in St. Paul, Minnesota, start the first hotline for battered women.

~ Women’s advocates and Haven House in Pasadena, California, establish the first shelters for battered women.
1978 ~ Returning from a feminist conference in San Francisco, two women’s advocates from Bellingham are determined to create a shelter that is run as a feminist collective.
1979
~ In Bellingham, the Battered Women’s Project forms a coalition with Rape Relief and Sun Crisis Services, forming Whatcom Crisis Services.

~ In February, Holly Near and J.T. Thomas perform at a benefit concert raising $2,000 and the People’s Land Trust offers a house to serve as a shelter for battered women.

~ May 22nd Womencare opens its doors! Within 24 hours, 2 of the 3 beds are filled.

~ In the fall, Womencare receives a donation to hire one paid staff member.

The 1980s

1980
~ The First National Day of Unity in October is established to mourn battered women who have died at the hands of their abusers, to celebrate women survivors and honor all who have worked to defeat domestic violence. The Day of Unity becomes Domestic Violence Awareness Week and in 1987, expands to a full month of awareness activities.

~ CETA and DSHS grants and local private support allows Womencare to hire ten part-time staff members.
1981
~ CETA grants dry up and Womencare is forced to lay off its staff. Once again, the agency’s programs are run solely by volunteers.
~ Womencare’s first Board of Directors is formed.
1983 ~ Womencare’s shelter location changes four times during the year.
1984 ~ Womencare faces a financial crisis. Volunteers rally and the City of Bellingham grants $19,000 allowing the shelter to remain open.
1985
~ Thurman v. Torringtion is the first federal case in which a battered woman sues a city for law enforcement’s failure to protect her from her husband’s abuse. Scarred and partially paralyzed from injuries inflicted by her husband, Tracy Thurman wins a $2 million judgment against the city.

~ The U.S. Surgeon General issues a report identifying domestic violence as a major health problem.
1987 ~ The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence establishes the first national toll-free domestic violence hotline.

The 1990s

1990 ~ Womencare hires a Legal Advocate.
1992 ~ Womencare becomes a founding member of the Domestic Violence Task Force.
1994
~ President Clinton signs the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. The Act provided $156 million in state grants to bolster local law enforcement, prosecution and services to victims to better address violence against women.

~ Womencare increase services to 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
1997 ~ Womencare forms its first Management Team and for the first tine provides 24-hour paid staffing of our shelter and Helpline to our community.
1999 ~ After renting for 20 years, Womencare secures the funding to build its own shelter.

The year 2000–present