La Casa de las Madres (Home of the Mothers) has come a long way from the small grassroots organization it was when it was founded in 1976. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we reflect on who we are, the challenges we have faced, and how—through it all—we have remained committed to our mission: supporting survivors and their families with comprehensive services and shelter, working toward a future free from violence.
Join us as we cherish the history of La Casa, remembering some key moments that shaped who we are today:
For centuries, survivors of domestic violence had very few places to turn. There was a severe lack of shelter and resources for women and children seeking to escape abusive situations, and legal, medical, and political systems largely ignored the issue. The women who would go on to form La Casa de las Madres saw this gap clearly. They knew something had to change, and took action.
In December 1974, Marta Segovia Ashley brought together a coalition of women determined to create a safe haven for survivors. They began by researching how institutions responded to domestic violence, conducting interviews with police officers, captains, local station personnel, judges, and district attorneys to better understand how survivors were being treated, and whether any kind of support existed. What they found confirmed the urgency of their mission. With this knowledge, they developed a funding proposal, testified at State Senator Moscone’s hearing on marital violence, and began raising awareness about the issue of domestic violence
In November 1975, the San Francisco Women’s Centers adopted La Casa as a project, allowing the organization to operate under an existing federal tax exemption and benefit from established community organizing expertise. Just one month later, a local supporter offered to rent her four-story Victorian home to the group. With this opportunity, the founding members made a remarkable commitment, and paid rent out of their own pockets to secure the space. On January 15, 1976, they moved in, and the very next day, the first resident family arrived.
That same year, La Casa became financially established with its first grants. Vanguard, an innovative local foundation led by young people, awarded $5,500, followed by $6,000 from Coleman Youth Services and a significant $51,000 grant from the San Francisco Foundation. These early investments helped transform a grassroots effort into a sustainable organization.
From the beginning, La Casa provided four essential services: a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week crisis line; emergency shelter for women and children; community support groups; and prevention education / outreach efforts to raise awareness in the community. These core services addressed both immediate safety needs and the long-term healing of survivors. These key services continue to guide the organization’s work today.
Over the years, La Casa de las Madres has grown significantly to meet the evolving needs of the community. Today, the organization partners with agencies across San Francisco to expand access to care, including hospital-based advocacy, youth education on healthy and unhealthy relationships, and support for survivors transitioning from temporary to permanent housing. Other programs like the Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT), staff are able to support survivors immediately after a police report, connecting them to life-saving resources they may not otherwise know exist.
As we celebrate 50 years of advocacy, resilience, and courage, we honor the women who built La Casa de las Madres from the ground up. Their determination created a legacy that continues to save lives every day. That legacy calls us forward. We remain committed to answering every call for help—24 hours a day, 365 days a year—and providing survivors of all ages with the tools and support they need to transform their lives.
50 years of courage. A legacy of safety. The work continues.