I've been in a women's shelter - not for me, for someone I know - and it was 16 years ago, so some details are a little hazy. It was an old house with security bars and doors on the exterior. The house looked otherwise like any other house in the neighborhood - no advertising that it was a women's shelter. My brother was with me, and he was not allowed in - no men are. The house was clean, but certainly not up to date in terms of style and furnishings and whatnot. I wasn't allowed in the bedroom of the person I was visiting - only in the common area. I was told that some bedrooms are shared by multiple women (bunkbeds), but women with children were, when possible, given their own rooms.
Also, the police knew where the shelter was, but no one ever gave out the address or phone number or even admitted that the person I was trying to visit said it was okay for me to know. Getting into the shelter wasn't easy for the victim of DV - they frequently don't have enough room - but there were several shelters over the city. I was also told that, when there are problems with too many/the wrong people knowing where the shelter is, they'll pick up and move to another house.
It was quiet and somber and had an air of sadness and despair.
What else do you want to know?
