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Noah Project, Inc.
In 1979, a research team distributed a survey to area hospitals, law enforcement agencies, attorneys, and social service organizations. It was discovered that more than 1,000 incidents of family violence were reported in a 6-month period – amounting to one-sixth of the families in Abilene.
To address this problem, Noah Project opened its first shelter in 1980. It moved to the current location on the corner of Grape and North 18 th in 1985. In 1984, Noah Project-West opened in Snyder, Texas; in 1985 Noah Project-Central Texas opened in Brownwood, Texas; and in 1987 Noah Project-North opened in Haskell, Texas. Through these facilities, Noah Project provided services to Abilene, Texas, and twenty surrounding counties.
In 2000, two of Noah Project’s outreach centers developed into separate entities. Noah project-West became Gateway Family Services, and Noah Project’s Brownwood shelter became The Ark. Currently, Noah Project serves the following ten counties of West Central Texas: Callahan, Eastland, Haskell, Knox, Jones, Shackelford, Stonewall, Stephens, Taylor, and Throckmorton.
Noah Project is currently embarking on a $10 million capital campaign to build a new shelter along with a family justice center. This new facility will be located on Texas Avenue in Abilene and will greatly increase housing capability. The addition of a family justice center will not only serve residents of Noah but the community in general who need help securing legal orders and services related to domestic violence.
Noah Project maintains three programs to assist victims of family violence and to educate our community on family violence issues. Within the Family Violence Program, victims receive safe shelter and support services, including food and clothing, group and individual counseling, medical assistance, transportation, employment referrals, educational support, personal and legal advocacy, and referrals to other community services. Prescription for the Next Step is an innovative legal advocacy program that facilitates collaboration of the professional medical and legal communities to assist victims. Through medical and other specified referral sources, victims are provided legal counsel by a Noah Project attorney who handles emergency legal matters and recruits others to deal with long-term problems. Healing Hurting Hearts is a school-based awareness program for child witnesses and victims of family violence. This program provides age-appropriate presentations in the classroom for pre-K through 12 th grade students, including the option of follow-up support groups for parents and children.
