Bethany House of Northern Virginia, Inc. (BHNV) is an ecumenical ministry, organized to maintain facilities that will care temporarily for battered spouses and their children, homeless and destitute because of abuse.

Mrs. Ward worked in the District of Columbia for many years with families in crisis. Later she was made aware of the limited resources, the lack of shelters and low-cost housing, the overwhelming number of spousal abuse cases not being processed in Northern Virginia. Out of this tremendous need, Bethany House, a shelter for abused spouses and their children was born.

BHNV began by providing temporary shelter and support systems with a person-to-person outreach program for 4-6 months in order to prevent “revolving door” admissions. It felt that if spouses were allowed to stay longer, they would have a better chance to “get on their feet” and enabling the shelter to have a much more cost-effective rehabilitation plan. BHNV has continued its long-term individualized program and has continued to develop its programs. The program now has a follow up period of up to two years and a re-sale shop, Joseph’s Coat, which enables BHNV’s to provide clothing for its clients while they are in the shelter and later with furnishings upon leaving, it also provides funds to support the shelters.

Bethany House has pioneered many interventions in shelters that provide long-term care and comprehensive client support services that keep the families stabilized as they move forward to independent living. It’s nurturing and loving care of clients set the highest of standards. No distinction is made between individuals served on any basis – age, gender, race, creed, color, ethnic origin, physical disability or any other distinction.