40-unit domestic violence shelter opens in east Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new 40-unit domestic violence shelter dedicated to providing safe, short-term housing and services for survivors of domestic violence and their children officially opened in east Austin on Wednesday, the Austin Public Health said in a press release. 

According to the release, a former Super 8 Motel on East 51st Street was transformed into a trauma-informed shelter for women and children experiencing domestic violence. The motel’s 62 guest rooms were converted into 40 rooms for residents, and the pool was replaced with a children’s outdoor play area. 

The city’s Capital Delivery Services began construction on the shelter in August 2024, the release said.

“This is such a powerful moment for our community,” said Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes. “Domestic violence doesn’t just affect survivors; it impacts entire families and ripples across neighborhoods.”

Fuentes highlighted that the new shelter will be a “true safe haven” and a “place to rest, to heal and to reclaim power over one’s future.”

Also installed on site is an art work by Felipe Gómez called “Perspective in Light.” The sculpture, created with woman and children at SAFE Alliance, reflects the stories shared about “strength, hope, and healing,” the art’s description said.

The SAFE Alliance will operate the facility and provide on-site support including basic needs, safety planning and referrals to financial assistance and permanent housing resources, the release said. 

Austin Public Health said the shelter will provide the following key services:

• Emergency transportation and rapid placement into a safe shelter.
• Counseling and support groups.
• Safety planning and case management focused on housing stability.
• Connection to healthcare benefits.
• Educational advocacy for K-12 students.
• Children’s Services program to build skills and resiliency.
• Legal Advocacy.
• Peer support, life skills programming, and career/education access.

General fund and 2018 bond dollars were used toward the million project, the release said.