The Family Place has opened one of the first domestic violence shelters exclusively serving men this month.

The shelter run by the Dallas nonprofit is the first of its kind in Texas, and one of only a few in the country, according to KERA News. 

One in seven men who are ages 18 and older has been the victim of domestic violence within an intimate partner relationship, according to the CDC.

One in seven men who are ages 18 and older has been the victim of domestic violence within an intimate partner relationship, according to the CDC, but there are fewer resources available to men than women.

Paige Flink, CEO of The Family Place, assisted men seeking help by locating them in hotels around the area. Spending around $150,000 a year, Flink knew she needed to find an alternative.

“In the past two years, we kept seeing an increase in men seeking shelter. First we thought it was an aberration; we weren’t sure what was going on. But it just got more and more expensive,” Flink told KERA News.

Two years ago, the first male-only shelter opened in Batesville, Arkansas. Since then, the Taylor House for Men has housed more than 30 male victims. 

“Clearly there is a need. We get calls from all over the country,” shelter manager Bill Miller told KERA.

Flink told The Dallas Morning News earlier this year, she believes a number of factors are attributing to the shifting perceptions about domestic violence. These include an easing of gender stereotypes and the rejection of the idea that women are unable to abuse their husband or boyfriend. 

“The millennial generation doesn’t have the same patriarchal view,” Flink told Morning News. 

The Family Place offers a multitude of services for families affected by domestic violence. For immediate relief, contact its 24-hour emergency at 214-941-1991.

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