Domestic violence is an epidemic that doesn’t care about the color of your skin or how much money you make. It affects four million women a year in the U.S., according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The staggering statistics don’t end there: On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends every day. One out of three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Ninety-two percent of women say that reducing domestic violence and sexual assault should be at the top of any formal efforts taken on behalf of women today—and that’s just what places like Genesis Women’s Shelter in Dallas, Texas are trying to do.

When Jan Langbein began volunteering at Genesis almost two decades ago her first impression was surprise.

“I didn’t know that women who looked like me or lived near me [could be victims of abuse],” says Langbein. “I was absolutely stunned when I realized that domestic violence is such an equal opportunity epidemic.” Langbein soon turned her part-time project into a full-time passion when she became Genesis’ Executive Director, a position she’s held for fifteen-and–a-half years.

Founded over twenty years ago as a hotline and a seven-room shelter, Genesis has evolved into a full-service resource for victims of family violence. “What we’ve done over the years is look at the different road blocks that battered women face when they try to flee and start over with an abuse-free life—and [then we] try to remove those roadblocks,” says Langbein. How do they do it? Through a three-tiered approach that provides services for any woman who may call for help:

  1. The shelter: It’s a safe house where battered women and their children can stay, for up to six weeks. The shelter provides residents with beds, meals and counseling, all free of charge.
  2. Transitional housing: Genesis created Annie’s House as a longer-term solution for battered women who still need help getting back on their feet. As Langbein says, “Six weeks in an emergency shelter won’t fix the problem.” Families can stay in Annie’s House for up to 18 months.
  3. Outreach center: According to Langbein, “Ninety-five percent of battered women would never call or don’t need a shelter.” But because they do need counseling and other services, Genesis provides an outreach center for that.