Our Mission and Services

Women Against Abuse, a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency, is Philadelphia’s leading domestic violence advocate and service provider and among the largest domestic violence agencies in the country.

Our Mission

The mission of Women Against Abuse is to provide quality, compassionate, and nonjudgmental services in a manner that fosters self-respect and independence in persons experiencing intimate partner violence and to lead the struggle to end domestic violence through advocacy and community education.

Our Core Services

Women Against Abuse strives to provide a continuum of care—from telephone crisis counseling to long-term supportive housing—in a manner that promotes victim safety, autonomy and dignity.

  • Safe Havens: Since 1977, Women Against Abuse has operated Philadelphia’s only safe havens for survivors of domestic violence.
  • Legal Center: The Women Against Abuse Legal Center is among the first in the nation dedicated to survivors of domestic violence.
  • Sojourner House: Women Against Abuse operates the region’s first transitional housing program for survivors with children.
  • Safe at Home Program: The Safe at Home Program provides survivors with community-based case management services and financial assistance to safely transition to homes in the community.
  • Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline: Women Against Abuse leads the 24-hour, citywide hotline, a central point of access for crisis counseling, safety planning and referrals.
  • Community Education and Training: Women Against Abuse educators train professionals, students, survivors and community members to effectively intervene in the cycle of abuse and avoid unhealthy relationships.

Learn more about what each of these services has to offer!

Learn more about what each of these services has to offer!

Visit our Services section to get more information.

Outstanding Organizational & Financial Capacity

Women Against Abuse consistently demonstrates a commitment to organizational excellence, ensuring the highest quality programs and exemplary performance.

  • Modeling best practices: With funding from the Oak Foundation, Women Against Abuse has substantially developed its property management infrastructure, enabling it to reduce costs and improve efficiencies across sites, while dedicating resources to advance its program and facilities expertise. This move has enabled Women Against Abuse to better leverage resources, and prepared the organization for the coming expansion of emergency safe haven.
  • Capturing impact and client needs: Women Against Abuse has upgraded its information management system to ClientTrack, a database with enhanced quality control features and improved user friendliness. As a result, Women Against Abuse will be able to collect more data on outcomes and improve program performance.
  • Awards and recognition: View our Awards and Recognition page for recent recognition of Women Against Abuse leadership!
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Doug Schoenberg’s Story

Doug Schoenberg, Co-Founder and CEO of SofterWare, Inc., recently provided a challenge match through the Schoenberg Family Charitable Fund as an incentive to help Women Against Abuse gain new monthly donors.

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La historia de Candace

Al pensar en la violencia doméstica, a menudo se piensa en una víctima/sobreviviente adulta. Pero ¿qué sucede con los niños, las niñas y las personas jóvenes adultas que han experimentado abuso o han sentido miedo en sus propios hogares? Candace, quien trabajó como terapeuta en Women Against Abuse, fue testigo de cómo abusaban a su madre durante años y elige contar su historia sobre este aspecto de la violencia doméstica del que poco se habla. A continuación, sus palabras.

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Shakeda's Story

I was 5 years old when my mom got a new job as a manager at a local KFC. She met a gentleman there who was a suave, smooth kind of guy, rode a bike, didn’t care about authority, and was the opposite of my father. My mom fell hard for him.

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Amy

Amy's Story

“This is not OK; this is not who I will be; I will love my children; violence will not be allowed in my home.”

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Renee’s Story

Renee Norris Jones experienced 7 years of domestic violence at a time when few resources existed to help victims escape abuse.

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Historia de Shakeda

Sara

Sara’s Story

Meet Sara, a survivor of domestic violence, who overcame an abusive relationship and navigated a new country, all while parenting two children.

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Sheila

Sheila’s Story

Sheila arrived at the Women Against Abuse Emergency Shelter after waking up in a hospital emergency room.

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Georgina-ohara

Georgina O’Hara’s Story

Pro bono representation provided by local law firms makes a meaningful difference for the thousands of clients seeking help at our Legal Center.

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Overbrook Presbyterian’s Story

The Women’s Dining Circle of Overbrook Presbyterian Church knows how to make fundraising down right fun. In January, the Dining Circle hosted a dinner that raised over $1,200 for Women Against Abuse.

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If you or someone you know needs help, call our toll-free 24-hour Hotline:

1.866.723.3014

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