THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WCTV) - A Thomasville shelter that serves domestic violence survivors is working to expand as rising demand for safe housing strains its aging facility.

Halcyon Home, which has provided 24-hour care for decades, operates out of a 120-year-old building with just four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Yet it often shelters between 16 and 21 women and children at a time, according to Executive Director Jennifer Green.

“I feel like it removes a bit of their dignity and pride because the beds are close and you’re sleeping next to a stranger,” Green said. “I put myself in that situation, thinking if this is what I had, I would probably return home.”

Green said returning home, for many victims, can lead to dangerous outcomes.

In 2024, the shelter served 328 women and children, and the need continues to grow. Green said the issue spans generations, with cases increasing among older adults and even affecting middle school-aged children.

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To address the demand, Halcyon Home seeks to build a new 10,000-square-foot shelter equipped with additional space, therapy rooms, support group areas and full ADA accessibility.

The city of Thomasville is applying for a $5 million grant on the shelter’s behalf to help fund the project.

“All the barriers that have stopped these women from rebuilding their lives, we’re looking to provide that in a one-stop shop,” Green said.

If funding is approved, the new facility could expand the shelter’s ability to help survivors recover and rebuild their lives. A decision on the grant is expected by the end of the year.

In the meantime, Halcyon Home continues to fund its services through donations and its local thrift store.

Halcyon Home services Thomas, Grady, Mitchell, Seminole and Decatur counties.

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