When we talk about helping domestic violence survivors, it’s easy to think first about shelters, police reports, or court systems. And while those are important, they’re only part of the bigger picture. At La Casa de las Madres, we operate under the Empowerment Model, which shifts the focus: it’s all about giving survivors the power to reclaim their lives—in their own way and on their own terms.
In 1976, a coalition of San Francisco women—many of whom had experienced domestic violence first hand—recognized the dire lack of resources available to survivors. At the time, emergency shelters for women fleeing abuse were virtually nonexistent, and the legal, medical, and political systems largely ignored the issue. Women who left abusive partners faced the terrifying reality of homelessness, financial insecurity, and, often, further violence.
If you don’t personally know someone who has been trafficked, the concept may seem distant, unrelatable, and ‘in the shadows’ – that is, “something that happens in other parts of the world, but surely NOT in our own backyard.” The truth is, Human Trafficking occurs right under our noses.
The holidays are generally revered as a joyous time. While often filled with celebration and togetherness, the holidays can also amplify feelings of loneliness for those who lack a supportive network.
It’s back to school time in San Francisco! At La Casa’s emergency shelter there is a flurry of excitement in the air as our families prepare for the first day of school, seeing friends again and returning to a weekly school schedule. Returning to school or starting a new school can be a stressful time and It is important to set aside space to process these new changes and how they affect each individual differently depending on their experience.
Volunteers who generously give their time, energy, and skills in wide-ranging ways are truly at the heart of La Casa’s work, helping to ensure and sustain our free, confidential services 24/7/365. La Casa welcomes the 4 newest graduates of our Domestic Violence Counselor Training, who finished the month-long program on July 1st and are beginning to dive into involvement across our various programs!
Abuse affects people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Throughout the month of June, we celebrate the diversity and equality of all individuals, and speak out against the discrimination and violence directed at the LGBT community. LGBTQ survivors face uniquely challenging barriers to accessing support...
Lisa* endured many years of abuse before Shelter in Place went into effect. As the put-downs and violence intensified in close-quarters with her husband, Lisa could no longer tell herself that her three children weren’t impacted by what they saw and heard. She confided in a neighbor, who knew about La Casa and helped her reach out.
Lisa arrived at La Casa’s shelter scared. Was she putting her children at higher risk for COVID? Would her husband only take more anger out on her? She was desperate for a place they could be safe, and she quickly learned that La Casa was taking every precaution necessary to be a healthy and safe refuge.
Lisa’s main priority was her children, and La Casa’s case managers helped her support them, safety plan, and connect with resources. A few miraculous weeks later, Lisa had counseling for herself and her children, she'd found regular employment, and she was moving into safe, stable housing for her family.
*Identifying details have been changed.
It is that time of year again for La Casa's Holiday Gift Box Program and we need your help to continue this tradition! La Casa works to provide a meaningful holiday experience for all of our clients and we know the joy it brings survivors to receive thoughtfully purchased holiday gifts from their community. Keeping the safety of the La Casa community in mind, we have designed this year’s program for online gift purchases to be shipped directly to La Casa.
This year we have approximately 300 survivors who will be actively receiving community support services from La Casa through the holidays and who will be participating exclusively in our holiday gift box program. Committing to fill this need means purchasing and preparing a gift box for at least one of these survivors. We ask that all gift boxes include a bath and body set, a $25 Safeway e-gift certificate, $25 Target e-gift certificate, and gift bag with tissue paper. On average, each gift box will cost around $75.
