‘A safe space for them to recover’
Woman dedicates her life to helping survivors of sexual violence in Dallas
DALLAS — When Victoria Shepherd learned that her teenage coworkers at Cafe Momentum often didn’t have a safe place to sleep at night she was angry. She was angry not only because of the lack of stability in these kids’ lives, but also because she knew what it felt like to feel unsafe.
When she was in her early 20s she was drugged, raped, and left in an alley while she was in Thailand. If two men from her hostel had never found her, she believes she could have died. She has no memory of the attack beyond what was told to her.
For years, Shepherd’s experience led to her struggle with addiction. She said every time she closed her eyes, her mind would try to imagine what happened to her. When she was under the influence, she didn’t need to think of it.
“It took going therapy to realize that that’s why I was drinking and doing drugs every night,” Shepherd said. “Because I just either didn’t want to go to sleep at all, or I wanted to blackout so I couldn’t go to sleep.”
All she wanted then was a safe place to be. And now, she dedicates her whole life to building exactly that. Shepherd started Shepherd Inn in 2019 for women between 18 to 28 who have experienced sexual trauma or domestic abuse. Shepherd Inn has an outreach program and transitional housing, and has supported almost 20 women.
“It is a safe haven for women who have experienced sexual trauma,” Shepherd said. “A safe
place for them to recover and get back on their feet. It’s a place where you’ll feel love and security every single day.”
She said that their stories are her story, but she hopes they won’t have to go through all that she did.
“I developed alcohol addiction, drug addiction, went to jail,” Shepherd said. “Even though we come from completely different parts of the United States sometimes or our lives have been drastically different. They’re all very, very much the same.”
Girls that come to Shepherd have to come up with an action plan and make progress on their physical and mental health. Their goals typically include graduating high school or getting a GED, saving up for an apartment, and getting a driver’s license.
Shepherd also partners with Grace United Methodist for her outreach program, which includes financial education, yoga, trauma therapy and study of the Bible and other books that Shepherd thinks would be beneficial.
One of the first people that Shepherd helped get back on her feet was Sharonda Campbell. The two worked together at a pizza place in 2018. Campbell needed some help to stand back up after her husband was killed in 2018, and Shepherd let Campbell and her daughter into her home.
“It was a blessing,” Campbell said. “I’m just gonna say it was a blessing. Victoria, it felt like she was more like a guardian angel to me.”
Campbell stayed with Shepherd for about two
months in 2019 and was able to save up for an apartment during that time. However, because of the pandemic and the struggles of the restaurant industry, Campbell could not find work and eventually was evicted and stayed at a motel.
Fast forward to December 2021, Shepherd offered that same home to Campbell, fully furnished. Shepherd surprised Campbell and her two kids with the home after finding out they were living in a motel.
“It’s a relief,” she said. “It’s a breath of fresh air. I can’t say thank you enough. I wake up every morning and I thank God. I can go outside and sit on my porch and drink coffee.”
Campbell is really grateful because having a house and living in a neighborhood was her and her late
husband’s dream
“I feel that he’s happier now and he can rest knowing that we’re OK,” she said.
Veronica Enoch is also grateful to what Shepherd provided her with. As she aged out of the foster care system, Enoch needed a place to stay. She met Shepherd in summer of 2019 and stayed with her for about five months.
Shepherd helped Enoch get her documents in order, receive a driver’s license and furnished her first apartment.
“Aging out of the foster care system meant that I didn’t know how to do a lot of stuff,” Enoch said. “She helped me through all of that.”
Enoch said that Shepherd is now like a big sister to her.
“She’s all my emergency contacts, she’s the only person that’s able to pick up my son from daycare besides me,” Enoch said. “I just appreciate her and she’s done a lot. She did it all by herself too.”
Today, Enoch has a driver’s license, her own apartment and car, and has been sober for about eight months.
“Victoria has a really good heart,” Enoch said. “She is always willing to take that risk to help somebody out.”
Shepherd hopes to grow even more and create a Recovery Ranch where the women who are a part of her program can stay, heal, and learn. Her goal is to break ground by the end of 2022. Shepherd said she never shies away from asking for help and is looking forward to the future of Shepherd Inn.