Austin sexual assault survivors who want a forensic exam outside a hospital setting will soon have to travel to Cedar Park, at least for now, as Southeast Austin’s Eloise House prepares to close June 8. The shift comes as SAFE Alliance, Eloise House’s longtime Austin-based operator, continues to struggle financially and says it can no longer afford to provide forensic exam services there.
After that, BRAVE Alliance will become Travis County’s primary provider of sexual assault forensic exams as part of a hospital-led agreement with Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White Health and St. David’s HealthCare.
Officials from BRAVE and the Austin Police Department are promising to make the transition as seamless as possible by offering transportation support to survivors and 24/7 forensic nursing coverage with a target response time of under 90 minutes.
“Patients will be able to go directly to our clinic, or to a hospital, or through law enforcement to be connected with us,” BRAVE Alliance Executive Director Crystal Love told the American-Statesman. “The biggest difference is there used to be two community centers survivors could go to but now there is just one.”
That could change if BRAVE finds a more accessible location in Austin, an effort Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis noted in a recent memo to the mayor and City Council. One option under consideration is taking over the Eloise House facility itself, though the nonprofit is still evaluating the cost of operating the site.
In her memo, Davis wrote that APD understands the concerns raised by Eloise House’s closure and remains committed to supporting survivors throughout the transition. But she also described BRAVE, which was founded in 2018, as “a trusted partner to APD and to this community for years.”
Texas law requires sexual assault forensic exams and rape kit evidence collection to be offered at no cost, regardless of whether a survivor files a police report. (Davis’ memo also says survivors can seek exams and victim services regardless of immigration or documentation status.)
But where survivors seek care could affect whether they face other costs. At BRAVE’s clinic, forensic exams and additional care are provided free of charge, according to the memo. At partner hospitals, the forensic exam itself is covered, but hospital facility fees may apply.
Love said fear of hospital bills can deter survivors from seeking care, which is one reason community-based exam sites remain important. Hospitals cannot charge for the forensic exam itself, she said, but may bill for other medical services, such as imaging, lab work or treatment of injuries unrelated to the exam. Survivors may be eligible for state compensation for some costs connected to the assault.
Davis’ memo acknowledges that emergency room wait times may also be a barrier. Survivors who face long waits or do not want to remain at a hospital can contact APD Victim Services or call 911, and officers or victim services counselors can provide transportation to BRAVE’s clinic or a partner hospital, according to the memo.
Love said BRAVE also pays for ride-hailing services for survivors who do not want to receive an exam at a hospital.
SAFE Alliance will stop providing forensic exam services at Eloise House because it could not secure enough funding to keep the facility operating. SAFE has said its financial challenges could also threaten other programs, including one of its two domestic violence shelters. It remains unclear whether SAFE has secured enough funding to continue operating that shelter or other services facing possible closure.
After June 8, SAFE will continue offering confidential advocacy, crisis intervention and accompaniment services for survivors. Asian Family Support Services of Austin will also continue providing confidential advocacy. Davis’ memo says advocates from either organization can be present during a forensic exam and support survivors before, during or after an exam, regardless of whether they report to law enforcement.
Survivors and community members with questions are encouraged to contact APD Victim Services at 512-974-5037 or visit www.atxbelieves.org.