When a mother makes the courageous decision to flee domestic violence, it often happens suddenly. There's no time to pack or plan. They leave behind their home, belongings, and everything familiar.

Emergency shelters are the first stop on the journey to safety. These are short-term stays—typically around 3 to 6 weeks—offering mothers and children a secure, confidential place to land.

For many, it’s the first night they’ve slept without fear in a long time.

Some families need the support of a second-stage shelter. These longer-term programs—usually up to a year—provide private, fully furnished apartments and wraparound supports like trauma counseling, parenting programs, life skills training, and help securing employment or education.

Eventually, with strength and support, families move into permanent housing. It’s a fresh start—free from violence, full of possibility. It may be a small apartment or a townhouse, but to them, it represents freedom, dignity, and a future. And often, it starts out completely empty.

The journey from fear to freedom doesn’t end at the front door. Survivors need the essentials to truly feel at home—beds to sleep in, dishes to eat from, towels to wrap their children in. Your donation of household items or small furniture helps turn empty rooms into homes and gives families the foundation they need to thrive.