DODGE CITY — One of the few shelters in western Kansas for victims of domestic violence reopened this week after a summer shutdown.

The Crisis Center of Dodge City was closed during the height of the summer heat wave after the air conditioning unit malfunctioned.

Shelter officials said they used the hiatus to make other repairs to the building. The facility was reopened Monday.

“The work of CCDC is so critical to the safety and health of our clients, which made the decision to temporarily close the safe house a very difficult one,” says Onna Gebhart, CCDC board president. “However, we are so glad to be able to welcome survivors into a clean, well-organized and comfortable safe house while they work to find safety and security in their lives.”

While it was closed, other shelters in Great Bend, Liberal and Garden City offered residential services to Dodge City area people in need of help.

“We are so pleased to have a network of domestic violence and sexual assault services across the state working together on behalf of survivors and their families,” Joyce Grover, executive director of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, said in a prepared statement.

The Dodge City center serves residents of Ford, Hodgeman, Clark, Meade and Gray counties. Those who need its assistance may call 620-225-6987 at any time.