La Casa de las Madres: A Refuge for Domestic Violence Victims in San Francisco

Based in San Francisco, La Casa de las Madres is California's first and the nation's second shelter dedicated to victims of domestic violence. Founded in 1976 by a group of Bay Area women, the once-quiet shelter is now the city's leading voice for women, teens, and children exposed to domestic violence. La Casa de las Madres responds to calls for help from victims of all ages 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Working to create a community where violence against women and children is not tolerated, La Casa provides survivors with the tools to transform their lives. In addition, the non-profit seeks to prevent future violence by educating the public and changing the community's perceptions about domestic violence.

La Casa de las Madres, which means The Home of the Mothers, was named so to honor the memory of one of the founders' mothers, who was brutally murdered by her partner in front of her teenage daughter. The founders of La Casa also wanted to convey the safety, nurturing, and unconditional acceptance within the shelter's doors, similar to the loving and comforting arms of a mother we all seek during a crisis.

Today, 15,000 individuals benefit from La Casa's expert intervention and prevention services each year. La Casa addresses both the immediate and long-term needs of individuals and families, responding to the unique needs of victims and survivors at every step of their journey towards healing. The free and confidential services offered by La Casa de las Madres include counseling; support groups; economic empowerment; crisis response and intervention; assistance with housing stability; safety planning and risk assessment; restraining order assistance; and information, advocacy, and referrals for medical, housing, legal, therapeutic, and child care issues. Moreover, the non-profit reaches over 50,000 community members annually through its education and outreach activities.