The Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System this week opened an updated domestic violence shelter.
The new shelter features a higher capacity with three units that include a kitchenette, bathrooms, closets and a variety of bedroom setups. In addition to the living spaces, there is an office and a therapy room. The new facility replaces a previous shelter that was built in the 1930s and “had become increasingly difficult to maintain,” said Matthew Benson, director of the WCHS Domestic Violence Program.
Feedback from advocates and survivors of domestic violence was used to inform design updates for the new facility.
“There are families in our community struggling with domestic violence situations, and knowing that this resource is available, I hope, brings peace of mind to families and gives people options to find the support available needed to help them in times of need,” said Erin McElroy-Flores, communications manager for the organization.
Anyone who calls the 24/7 WCHS domestic violence hotline can receive aid from the program.
“We want our community to know that we are here to help, to spread awareness of these crimes, and to teach future generations the importance of respect and care for one another,” Benson said.
Funds for the new shelter came from WCHS and the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime Tribal Set-Aside Funding. The total cost was about $700,000.
Support for domestic violence-related programs has recently caught more attention as Nebraska grapples with an increase in domestic violence-related deaths. Nebraska Public Media News found that 25 people died in murder-suicides in 2025 – the most the state has seen since at least 2019. The trend is occurring while federal and state funding for organizations that support victims is dwindling.
Last week, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced it would release $3 million in previously appropriated funds for domestic violence support services but warned lawmakers that the current source of funding isn’t sustainable. The newly announced state funding is separate from the funding for the new WCHS shelter.