RICHMOND, Va. -- Those who leave an abusive relationship often face different obstacles when they try to start a new life.
The first thing a person leaving an abusive relationship usually does is find a place to stay.
Right now in Central Virginia, there just aren't enough beds for victims of domestic violence and their children.
"I think this is a significant issue," said Delegate Jennifer McClellan (Va. 71st House).
"There have been efforts in the past few budget cycles to increase funding for that," said the five-term delegate.
"I think it's going to take more than just government," she said. "It's going to take everyone from the non-profit community, the business community, the churches and government working together, to say this is our number one priority and we're going to put the money behind it."
This week a spotlight was put on the issue when two sisters and their eight children fled to Richmond, from North Carolina. They were told to put distance between themselves and their abusers.
But doing so also removed them from imminent danger, which under state law, is the prerequisite to getting immediate access to a shelter or hotel.
Since they weren't in immediate danger, there were no beds available or funds to put them up in a hotel.
"My abuser brought us to Fayetteville, North Carolina, to try and get a house that he did not obtain, so we escaped yesterday morning at 5 a.m.,” a victim told us.
CBS 6 viewers reached out and provided them with three nights in a hotel and with several prepaid gift cards.
The two sisters and their children are still trying to find a shelter where they can stay.
"There should be a place for women to go when you're fleeing from your husband and you know you're not going back, to be able to go somewhere safe,” she said.
There is a 24/7 staffed hotline staffed to call for help, but certain criteria has to be met in order for victims of domestic violence to get into a shelter.
The first criterion is that the victim and children have to be in imminent danger, and if not, other resources like homeless shelters will be suggested.
The agency asks questions like; "have they been threatened, have they been physically assaulted, and were guns involved."
"There are not enough beds in Central Virginia unfortunately,” said Cathy Easter, Executive Director Safe Harbor.
In Henrico County, Safe Harbor has fewer than 10 beds, which means the emergency shelter is often filled.
"We in our emergency shelter have eights beds,” said Easter. “We also as a backup, have a relationship with a local hotel, where we can house clients specifically from Henrico County in a hotel.”
The two sisters and their eight children have no place to stay tonight, because they are not considered to be in imminent danger and the homeless shelters are all full.
Cathy Easter said that donations to agencies that help victims of domestic violence are always welcome.
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