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Resources and Support for the Victims at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas


OVC extends our sympathy for the victims, members of the congregation, and those impacted by the shooting at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas on February 11, 2024.

Below is a list of resources that may provide comfort and support during this difficult time.

Resources for victim service providers, law enforcement, first responders, and community and faith leaders responding to this tragedy are also listed.

Victim Helplines

VictimConnect

VictimConnect(link is external) is an OVC-funded service that offers confidential assistance to victims of crime. Trained specialists are available to help you locate services in your area, including mental health counseling, legal services, and more. Contact VictimConnect, Monday-Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., eastern time at:

Phone or text: 855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846)
Chat: https://victimconnect.org/get-help/victimconnect-chat(link is external)
Dial 711 and VictimConnect staff can provide services through an interpreter in more than 200 languages and to hearing- and speech-impaired individuals.

Disaster Distress Helpline

The Disaster Distress Helpline, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is a national hotline dedicated to year-round disaster crisis counseling.

This 24/7 toll free, multilingual, crisis support service is available to residents in the United States and its territories experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters, including incidents of mass violence. Call or text the hotline at 800-985-5990.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline(link is external) is a source of support available 24/7 to people in crisis, including people experiencing challenging reactions to disasters. Support is available in English or Spanish.

Phone or text: 988
Chat: https://988lifeline.org/chat(link is external)

Victim Compensation

Texas’ Crime Victims’ Compensation Program(link is external), funded in part through the OVC-administered Crime Victims Fund, may help offset a victim’s financial burden related to funeral, mental health, medical, and other expenses. Following is contact information for this program:

Crime Vic­tims’ Com­pen­sa­tion Program
Phone: 800-983-9933
Email: www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/crime-victims/crime-victim-services-contact-us(link is external)

Retrieving Personal Items

For those missing items left at the church, Lakewood Church officials ask that you fill out a lost and found online form(link is external). The church will respond as soon as possible to each request.

Date Published: February 14, 2024