A Shelter & Community Center FOR SAFETY, Hope & EMPOWERMENT
Our current shelter for survivors of domestic and sexual violence has only 3 bedrooms and 12-beds. This capital campaign is about more than building a new shelter. This is about building a pathway forward for survivors and families in Loudoun County.
Through an unprecedented partnership between Loudoun County, the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, and community donors, LAWS is creating a new Shelter & Community Services Center, designed to provide not only safety in moments of crisis, but the space, time, and support survivors need to heal, stabilize, and move toward independence.
By replacing a decades-old, limited-capacity shelter, LAWS can offer private, apartment-style living and integrated services that restore dignity and expand opportunity. This is a generational investment in Loudoun’s safety net—ensuring that when survivors reach out for help, our community is ready to meet them with more than a bed, but a pathway to a safer, stronger future.
| Current Shelter | Shelter & Community Services Center |
|---|---|
| - Communal, single family home | - Multi-family (apartment style) building and community services center |
| - 3 bedrooms with 12 beds | - 20-25 units with bedrooms (up to est. 50 beds), kitchenettes, small living area |
| - 2,612 SF | - 22,000 SF |
| - Security cameras; poor sight lines; single entry | - Security cameras; good sight lines; double entries |
| - Remote location | - Location near basic needs, public transportation |
| - Confidential | - Secure, not confidential |
| - 30 days with extensions | - 3-to-6-month stays, with longer term housing options |
Impacting one life and family at a time
Nearly 80% of our adults and children reported a spouse, partner or parental figure was the abuser. We must support physical and emotional safety so survivors live free of violence!
Safety
Survivors will experience physical security and emotional safety in the building's design, cutting edge safety technology, and proximity to emergency responders.
Hope
The new shelter will allow supported stays of 3-to-6 months to help survivors set and achieve longer-term goals, including pathways to self-sufficiency and freedom from violence.
Empowerment
The new shelter will be near public transportation for access to employment, healthy fresh food, medical care, and other service providers. The interior will offer individual rooms with kitchenettes to regain a sense of control and privacy.
A GENERATIONAL Impact in the making
The newly envisioned shelter will not only offer survivors immediate safety but also empower them with the time, space, and human support to rebuild self-esteem and learn to cope with trauma in healthy ways.
Our vision is and will always be one where no one has to experience the trauma of domestic violence. But until that day comes, we need to provide support for adults and children who have experienced this devastation.
Our new Shelter & Community Services Center is a critical next step. But we can’t do it without you.
Making this vision a reality will require an outpouring of support as we raise $11.6 million in combined private and municipal funding.
Survivor Voices
Behind every statistic is a person, and behind every person is a story of courage.
At LAWS, survivors remind us daily that safety, healing, and hope are possible.
These voices reflect what is possible when survivors are believed, supported, and empowered.
What is LAWS?
LAWS has been the designated domestic violence and sexual assault service provider for the county for 30 years. All of our services are free for the survivor, confidential, and voluntary.
The shelter team also assists with:
- Childcare while parent attends court or job interviews
- Transportation for children to attend school
- Groceries for families
- Goal-setting and safetyplanning
- Workforce development resources
- Referrals to other service providers and resources
Partner In Our Vision.
Join the Campaign.
Contact:
Samantha Clarke, MSW, MPS
Chief Executive Officer
Email: samantha.clarke@lcsj.org
Phone: (703) 771-3398
Address: 105 East Market St. Leesburg, VA 20176
