Reaching out for help can feel daunting, and it’s normal to be unsure of what to expect. This page will guide you through your first intake appointment, helping you feel more at ease and ready.
Our goal is to provide a safe and welcoming environment where you can share as much or as little as you want, ask questions, and explore support options that suit your needs. You don’t have to go through this alone—we’re here to listen, support you, and help you take the next step forward.
What To Expect
What to expect when contacting the Dove Project
When you reach out to the Dove Project, the first step is to call our confidential crisis line at (325)372-4357. You'll talk directly with a trained advocate who prioritizes your safety and confidentiality. You don’t need to have all the answers or know exactly what to say—the advocate will listen without judgment and may ask a few gentle questions to understand your situation better. Everything you share is completely confidential, and you decide how much or how little to share.
If you decide together that coming to the shelter for a residential or non-residential intake, the advocate will provide the shelter's address and explain what to expect, including what to bring, how to arrive safely, and what happens during intake. If shelter isn’t what you need right now, that’s okay—they can still help you create a safety plan, connect with counseling, legal advocacy, or other community resources. Their main goal is to offer a safe, supportive space where you feel heard, respected, and never have to face this alone.
Along with the assessment, you might be asked some of these questions to help us better understand your safety needs and plan your stay.
The current whereabouts of your abusive partner
Whether your partner has access to guns or other weapons
If you have children, and whether you will be bringing them with you
If you currently live with your abuser
Whether the police were involved during your most recent incident
What prescription medications you’re currently taking
Your relationship to the person who harmed you (e.g., spouse, partner, ex‑partner, family member)
Whether you have pets that will need shelter or care
If you’ll need accommodations for a disability or health condition
If there is a protective order, restraining order, or no‑contact order currently in place against your abuser
These questions might feel personal, but they help ensure that you and anyone with you, including children or pets, are safe, supported, and have access to everything you need. You’re always welcome to ask why a question is being asked or skip anything you’re not ready to answer.
We know that sharing your experiences can be incredibly tough and may bring up strong emotions or difficult memories. At The Dove Project, we’re committed to ensuring you feel as safe and supported as possible during this time. You’re always in charge of what you choose to share, and you can pause, take breaks, or stop the conversation whenever you need. Feel free to bring a trusted friend or support person, hold something comforting like a stress ball or water bottle, or ask to move to a quieter space if it helps you feel more comfortable. Our advocates are here to listen with care and patience, moving at a pace that feels right for you—because your comfort, dignity, and sense of safety are our top priorities.
If We are Unable to Offer Shelter
While we do our best to help everyone who contacts us, sometimes our shelter may be full or you may not meet the specific criteria for our program. We understand how discouraging this can feel, and want you to know you won’t be left without support.
If we can’t offer space right away, The Dove Project team will work with you to explore other safe options. We can help connect you to partner shelters, housing programs, or community resources that may have availability. We can also help you create or update a safety plan, provide crisis counseling, and offer referrals to legal, medical, and financial support services. Even if our shelter isn’t the right fit at this moment, we’re still here to listen, support you, and help you find the next safe step forward.
If we have space available and you choose to come into shelter, we’ll help you make that transition as smooth and safe as possible. A trained advocate will walk you through the intake process, explain the shelter guidelines, and answer any questions you might have about daily life here. You’ll receive a safe, private place to stay, along with essential items like bedding, toiletries, and meals.
Once you’re settled, we’ll work together to identify your goals and next steps—whether that’s safety planning, counseling, legal advocacy, or help finding long-term housing. Children and pets are welcome (please let us know in advance so we can prepare), and accommodations can be made for disabilities or specific health needs. Above all, our shelter is a space where you can breathe, feel secure, and begin to focus on healing and rebuilding at your own pace.
If We are Able to Offer Shelter
Once you have been granted access into the shelter, it’s important to bring certain essential items and documents with you. These help us verify your identity, support your safety planning, and make sure you and your children have what you need for medical care, legal matters, and daily living. We know it isn’t always possible to bring everything, and that’s okay — bring what you can, and we’ll help with the rest.
Important Items (for adults)
Photo ID (driver’s license, passport, state ID)
Social Security card
Birth certificate
Any legal documents (protective orders, custody paperwork)
Insurance cards
Prescription medications
A change of clothes
For children (if you’ll be bringing them)
Birth certificates
Social Security cards
Shot records / immunization records
Prescription medications
Favorite comfort items (special toys, stuffed animals, “woobie” or blanket)
Formula, bottles, diaper bag
A change of clothes
What we provide
We offer meals and snacks, toiletries, some clothing, diapers, wipes, and other basic necessities. We recommend bringing at least one set of clothes and essential items just in case we don’t have the right size or style you need.
If you’re unsure what to bring or it feels overwhelming, you can always call us on the crisis line and we’ll help you figure out what’s most important.