AVDA promotes violence-free relationships and social change by offering alternative choices to end violence and domestic abuse.
Back to TopPrevention through education, advocacy and intervention is the ultimate goal of AVDA. All survivors of family violence should be provided with a safe haven. They must be treated with dignity and their right to self-determination encouraged. Interventions which blame the victim and do not hold the abuser accountable are inappropriate. AVDA will encourage and advance the empowerment of survivors and seek social change by addressing the existing imbalance of power within violent relationships.
AVDA has been a safe haven for thousands of victims of domestic abuse. Adults and children are provided 24-hour, 7 days a week emergency shelter, crisis counseling, food, clothing, individual and group counseling services.
In 1984, a group of Palm Beach County residents formed a coalition for the purpose of creating a shelter for victims of domestic abuse. In 1985, the group organized as a nonprofit corporation in Florida and agreed upon the name, Aid to Victims of Domestic Assault (AVDA). AVDA raised $250,000.00 to match a $250,000.00 Community Development Block Grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funds were used to purchase and renovate a two-story, stucco former residential home that was built in 1953 to serve as the shelter. Equipment and furnishings were obtained from businesses and individuals in the community. AVDA's first clients were served on February 17, 1986.
In 1998, AVDA changed its corporate name from Aid to Victims of Domestic Assault, Inc. to Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, Inc. to better reflect the nature of the services provided by the organization. Over the years, AVDA has grown to meet the need to shelter, support, serve, and educate survivors and their children. Our programs have evolved from its early intervention shelter services to include prevention and educational outreach services.
In 2005, AVDA expanded its emergency shelter capacity and opened the doors to a new transitional living facility. The transitional living facility added a new dimension to AVDA's services by providing housing for domestic violence survivors for up to two years. In the transitional living program, survivors can move from homelessness to independent living while receiving counseling, life skills, training, and encouragement.
AVDA's growth reflects the dedication of the organization to empower victims of domestic abuse to enable them to live their lives independently and free of fear.
Deanna S. age 30, with her three children, ages five, four and six months, came to AVDA in late summer after leaving a six year relationship with an abusive partner. Her abuser expected Deanna to work at night, care for the children and take care of a home while having no transportation or the right to keep any of her income for herself. After many attempts to calm the hostility in the house, Deanna became concerned for the safety of her children so she decided to leave.
Having no family in the area and not wanting to alert friends or neighbors to her life that she had kept a secret until now, Deanna called AVDA hotline for help. The hotline counselor listen to her concerns and with extensive discussion advised Deanna of her options. Staying in the home had become increasingly dangerous to everyone’s safety so Deanna elected to move herself and children to AVDA’s Casa Vegso. With no money, bruised, feeling defeated and hopeless, Deanna and her three children arrived at Casa Vegso with fears of her abuser’s reaction to her decisions and the shock of what would happen to them now.
Over the next two months, Deanna was busy. She had to enroll her oldest child into kindergarten, look for a new job and affordable child care for her two youngest children. An AVDA Advocate assisted Deanna with these efforts. In addition, an AVDA Child’s Advocate worked daily with her three and five year old children to help them express their fears about the changes happening to the family. Deanna attended XXX group and individual counseling sessions to address her feelings about her past and future.
Deanna and her young children moved into Casa Vegso’s Transitional Housing after spending eight weeks in the emergency shelter. Daycare was arranged for the younger children and Deanna was able to get a job as a receptionist. She relies on public transportation which has a stop very close to the shelter, stores and her child’s school. Deanna has enrolled in school and will complete a course in medical coding in three months which will allow her to increase her income and future employment prospects. AVDA staff will continue to support Deanna and her children with counseling and case management to insure their progress.
These days, Deanna’s family has hope. They know it will take faith in themselves and help from caring people but they also realized that each day now begins and ends without violence which has brought remarkable changes in all of them. The children can be heard giggling now instead of hiding in fear, Deanna has a new confidence that she is capable to take care of herself and her family as they thrive in their new life. After years of surviving an abusive relationship, Deanna’s goals are to be productive, healthy and happy and with those goals, she believes she can do anything.