Domestic Violence Survivor Speaks Out About How a Shelter Saved Her Life
Austin, Texas — The Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) is teaming up with legislators, law enforcement, judges, family violence services advocates, domestic violence survivors and regular Texans to send a message of support for full funding for family violence services.
Renee Johnson, a survivor of domestic violence, says when her husband took a knife, scalped the top of her head and would not let her go to the doctor, she was finally able to flee to a domestic violence shelter and they helped save her life. “If it wasn’t for domestic violence shelters in Texas, I would not be in my apartment today and I would probably be dead,” said Johnson.
Johnson had to flee to several shelters across Texas to escape the husband she divorced after he held her hostage and took her to Michigan. She managed to make her way back to Texas and several shelters from Arlington to Ft. Worth to San Antonio that helped keep her safe.
Over the past several months, TCFV collected thousands of purple postcards from state domestic violence programs, survivors of domestic violence and voters. The postcards will now be delivered to legislators in the Texas Senate and House of Representatives to show how important full funding is for family violence programs. Advocates, allies and survivors of family violence use the color purple to symbolize their work to end violence within families.
“Full funding is an especially critical issue for the 82nd legislature because of the economic challenges Texas programs are facing,” said Gloria A. Terry, President of TCFV. “In 2009, nearly 80,000 women, children and men found safe sanctuary from violence at domestic violence shelters and at least 111 women died in Texas in domestic violence deaths. It is imperative that we fund the family violence services that will help prevent and eliminate this serious crime.”
State Senator Jane Nelson, Representative Elliott Naishtat, Texas Council on Family Violence Board President Marta B. Peláez and members of TCFV will participate in a news conference talking about the importance of full funding for family violence services.
Members of TCFV will then deliver thousands of postcards to legislators throughout the State Capitol. For more information about the purple postcard campaign you may contact TCFV at 512.794.1133 or log onto www.tcfv.org
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The Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV), formed in 1978, is one of the largest domestic violence coalitions in the nation. TCFV promotes safe and healthy relationships by supporting service providers, facilitating strategic prevention efforts, and creating opportunities for freedom from domestic violence. www.tcfv.org