Thelma Gaylord Emergency Shelter

This community-focused shelter doubles the YWCA’s ability to protect domestic violence victims.

The YWCA Oklahoma City has provided a new facility with increased space to help women and children escape the nightmare of domestic violence. This shelter offers the capacity to house nearly 120 women and children, nearly doubling the number from last year.

Working side-by-side with the YWCA OKC, FSB was inspired to create the only certified emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence in Oklahoma County. The new two-story building provides 85 beds to women and children in need and replaces the existing shelter, which is being repurposed as an interim shelter, offering longer-term housing and support.

Women and children can seek safety, emotional support and medical help here, secure in the knowledge that the facility is equipped with state-of-the-art security systems and provides free comprehensive services such as counseling, medical treatment and exams and economic empowerment programs.

FSB designers created an environment that fosters a sense of community among its residents. The courageous women and children who are sheltered here can begin to rebuild their lives surrounded by the comfort of modern, updated rooms, as well as indoor and outdoor playgrounds that encourage play time with their children, even during a time of crisis.

Through our work on this project, FSB is proud to play a small role in changing the generational dynamic of domestic abuse and ultimately saving lives in Oklahoma City.

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“During the last 30 years working in the domestic violence movement I have toured more than 200 domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters and transitional housing facilities across the United States. The design, functionality and aesthetics of the YWCA’s new shelter in Oklahoma City puts it in a category of ONE. FSB’s work created the most impressive housing facility I have ever seen.”

Casey Gwinn, Esq., Alliance for HOPE International President
120
the number of women and children that can be housed here
Secure
state-of-the-art comprehensive interior/exterior security systems
2
the number of years it took to raise the $15 million for this project