Welcome

Wesley Shelter, Inc. is the domestic violence & sexual assault response agency in Wilson County. Since 1983, Wesley Shelter has been serving the Wilson community through its many programs. What started as a small shelter for battered women has grown to include comprehensive services to all victims of domestic and sexual violence. Services include Domestic and Sexual Violence Response, Services for Homeless Women and Children, The Edward Y.C. Thorne Safe House, 24 Hour Crisis Line, Women’s Center, Children’s Programs, Hispanic Outreach Services, Counseling, Legal Services, The Clothes Line, and more. Over 1,500 clients are served each year with multiple service units.

Wesley Shelter, Inc. is governed by a community-based Board of Directors, reflecting a variety of interests and expertise. A professional staff of 30 is employed to assist our clients and approximately 100 volunteers per month facilitate those services. Over 1,500 clients are served annually with a multitude of services. 

Our Impact

2018-2019 Statistical Highlights

•  207 people; 112 women and 95 children were sheltered in the safe house due to domestic or sexual violence or                  homelessness.  4,883 nights; 14,649 meals. Some stay a few days; others several weeks.

•  526 families representing 1,219 women, children, and male victims of domestic and sexual violence were helped            with court advocacy, temporary restraining orders, protective orders, safety planning, and support through              the civil/legal systems. 

•  144 families received legal services through our attorney - consultation, representation, child custody.   

•  100 current and past victims of sexual violence received crisis response, advocacy, support, counseling.

•    83 clients received 301 counseling sessions by the Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

•   127 women consulted our nurse/health educator.   

• 1100 people received clothing, food, baby supplies, school supplies, furniture or home start-up kits.

•   130 women, men and children were given a bountiful Christmas.  Other holidays too. All with the help of our                generous community!

• 1035 transportation trips were provided to court, appointments, housing/job search, school or work.

•   291 child care services were provided while moms were in class, attending appointments, looking for work.

•     93 support groups for Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, or Parenting were offered.

•     53 children’s group activities were well attended; combining education with fun

•   240 women participated in classes; including life and job skills training, ESL, budgeting, money management,               parenting, self-esteem, health and nutrition, job search and more.

• 5200 referrals were made to community resources - vital to meeting the many needs.

•   660 Hispanic women, children and men were served through Spanish Outreach Mission including advocacy,                 interpreting services, support groups, T-Visas, U-Visas, classes and more.

•  1473 interpretation services were provided by bilingual staff.

•   185  individuals donated 8,000 hours of volunteer service to the various programs and projects, including after-             hours response for domestic/sexual violence, Clothes Line, BB&T Lighthouse.

•   127  educational presentations to 1,450 people and 15 professional trainings to 204 people occurred in the                           community. Hundreds were touched by outreach and PR activities in English and Spanish.

•   183  people toured the agency.

•   225  people participated in the fundraiser “In it to Win It!” Many wonderful sponsors also helped make the event           successful. 

• 100s of people donated to the Clothes Line whose sales help fund the important programs.

• And much, much more….

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We could not do this without the ongoing generous support of our Wilson community. Your time, goods, services, and financial donations enable us to make a difference in the lives of others, every single day.

THANK YOU to all that help us!   

Our Mission

To provide emergency shelter, 24 hour crisis line, advocacy, counseling, legal and supportive services to those who are in crisis as a result of domestic or sexual violence and to women and children who are homeless as defined by appropriate standards; to make referrals to appropriate employment, housing and other social supports; and to provide professional and community education about domestic and sexual violence.

The goal is to end violence and build healthy, self-sufficient families in a community educated on the issues.