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Domestic violence shelters

Domestic violence shelters are buildings, usually sets of apartments, that are set as a place where victims of domestic violence can seek refuge from their abusers. In order to keep the abuser from finding the victim, the location of these shelters are kept confidential. A rise in the building of shelters resulted from reforms in the 1980s and 1990s that restricted government support for women, coinciding with a period when women began to speak out against domestic violence. Reagan's presidency saw cuts to essential programs like Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), food stamps, medicare, housing aid subsidies, daycare, abortion, and family planning, exacerbating gender disparities and socioeconomic hardships, leading to the "feminization of poverty" with more women falling into impoverished conditions . Clinton's era continued these shifts, marked by the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) in 1996, introducing welfare reform through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which disproportionately impacted unmarried mothers and posed significant risks by reducing welfare entitlements. The implementation of work requirements and time limits under TANF also further exacerbated the challenges faced by women experiencing domestic violence, making it difficult for them to access the support they needed to leave abusive situations and rebuild their lives. These shelters that started to form provided the victims with the basic living necessities including food. Some domestic violence shelters have room for victimized mothers to bring their children, therefore offering childcare as well. Although the length of time a person can stay in these shelters is limited, most shelters help victims in finding a permanent home, job, and other necessities one needs to start a new life. Domestic Violence shelters should also be able to refer its victims to other services such as legal help, counseling, support groups, employment programs, health services, and financial opportunities.