Oct. 26, 2026
BY JOHN BAILEY
On Friday, Oct. 16, the Catawba County United Way was honored to be part of the Grand Opening of the Shelter Home of the Foothills Domestic Violence Shelter – Catawba County Campus.
Along with many other local and regional nonprofits and public agencies, the United Way has worked with Shelter Home the last two years to bring this service back to the county.
This is a totally renovated 22-bed emergency shelter that provides a place of safety and support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.
“Twenty-eight miles is the distance a DV survivor in Catawba County has had to travel for the last two years to reach the nearest emergency bed for someone fleeing domestic violence,” Shelter Home Executive Director Lisa Clontz said during the opening ceremonies Friday.
“For many of us, twenty-eight miles may not seem like a lot, but when you have no car because you don’t have the keys, when you have no cash because someone else controlled every dollar, when you have three children, one in the school right up the road and your phone is ringing with threats, 28 miles feels like a hundred.”
According to United Way impact reports, the Shelter Home provided domestic violence/sexual assault services to 902 individuals in 2025. The Catawba County DV shelter officially opened its doors on Monday, Oct. 19 to serve survivors of domestic violence.
Guest speakers at the grand opening event included: Shelter Home Associate Dir. of Operations Donyetta Gilmer, Shelter Home Executive Dir. Lisa Clontz, Shelter Home Board Chair Kim Edmisten, Catawba County United Way Executive Dir. Mark Bumgarner, City of Conover Mayor Kyle Hayman and Project Contractor Cammie Dellinger.
Learn more about these services at shelterhomecc.org.
The 24-Hour Crisis Line is 828-758-7088.