Voices Against Violence

As the only 24/7 emergency shelter of women and children in Twin Falls, we shelter, counsel and empower survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault

Victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their children sometimes come into the shelter with little more than the clothes on their backs. If they make the most of their stay here, they leave with not only the physical necessities, but with the vocational, educational, and emotional toolkits they can use to support and care for themselves and their children.

The service providers had attended a National Organization for Women conference entitled “Battered Women” in June of 1981 and came back to our community with determination to help local victims. Some of the people involved were: Rita Larom, CSI Center for New Directions; Judy Brooks, Health and Welfare; Sue Cummins, Twin Falls City Police Department; Betty Wright, MVRMC Emergency Room; Lura Morgan-Renk; and Nina Ferrant. This determined group of women met on a weekly basis until May of 1982, when the organization was incorporated as Volunteers Against Violence, Inc. (VAV). At that time we also officially became a nonprofit entity.