The Haven for Children
The Haven for Children is a Florida-licensed 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating three residential homes in Melbourne that deliver 24/7 therapeutic shelter care to approximately 30 abused, neglected, and abandoned children (ages 0-18) at a time, funded primarily through donations and the volunteer-operated Lamb Shoppe thrift store.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersMelbourne, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Haven for Children does
The Haven for Children, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1986 in Melbourne, Florida, licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to provide therapeutic shelter care for children from birth to age 18 who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The organization operates three residential homes (Haven I, Haven II, Haven III) in Melbourne serving approximately 30 children at any given time, staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and offering counseling, physical therapy, and behavior modification therapy in a homelike setting. Since opening its first nine-bed shelter in April 1987, The Haven has served nearly 4,000 children and is described in source material as a model for therapeutic shelter homes in Florida, with one of only a very few facilities holding this designation in the state.
The organization's core revenue streams are donations, planned giving (bequests, life insurance, retirement beneficiary designations), event fundraising, and the volunteer-operated Lamb Shoppe thrift store at 1765 South Patrick Drive in Indian Harbour Beach. The Haven Guild, founded in 1990 with nearly 300 active members, operates the Lamb Shoppe, coordinates the Chef du Jour daily meal program (covering all three homes every day of the year), and runs annual fundraisers including the Havenly Affair, Spring Luncheon, Superhero Run 5K, and Designer Purse Bingo. Additional programs include the Monthly Birthdays volunteer initiative and the Springboard Scholarship (est. 2016) supporting alumni private-school education. Placements come exclusively via Florida DCF referrals, and services to children are provided free of charge. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Blair Wilgus and led day-to-day by Executive Director Kimberly Straehla, with no parent company, subsidiaries, or institutional equity ownership.
The Haven for Children firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Haven for Children
- Legal name
- The Haven for Children, Inc.
- Website
- https://thehavenforchildren.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Haven for Children is a Florida-licensed 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating three residential homes in Melbourne that deliver 24/7 therapeutic shelter care to approximately 30 abused, neglected, and abandoned children (ages 0-18) at a time, funded primarily through donations and the volunteer-operated Lamb Shoppe thrift store.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Haven for Children industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Residential Child Welfare Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)
Keywords
Where The Haven for Children is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Melbourne
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
The Haven for Children business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to care for abused, neglected, and abandoned children.
- Planned Giving: Bequests through wills, life insurance beneficiary designations, and retirement plan proceeds to ensure long-term sustainability.
- Lamb Shoppe Revenue: All-volunteer operated upscale thrift shop at 1765 South Patrick Drive, Indian Harbour Beach. 100% of proceeds donated to The Haven. Opened October 1999.
- Haven Guild Membership: Annual membership fee of $30 covering quarterly newsletter and annual membership directory.
- Event Fundraising: Annual events including Havenly Affair fundraiser, Guild Spring Luncheon, Superhero Run 5K, and Designer Purse Bingo events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Haven Guild Annual Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Haven for Children product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Haven for Children provides licensed therapeutic residential shelter care for children from birth to age 18 who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The organization operates three licensed group homes in Brevard County, Florida, each serving approximately ten children with 24/7 counseling, physical therapy, and behavior modification services. Supporting offerings include the Lamb Shoppe thrift store, the Chef du Jour daily meal program, the Springboard Scholarship for alumni, and various volunteer-driven programs operated by the Haven Guild.
Product overview
The Haven for Children is a non-profit organization offering a single core service: therapeutic shelter care for abused, neglected, and abandoned children. The organization supplements its shelter operations with volunteer-run programs including The Haven Guild (volunteer organization), The Lamb Shoppe (thrift store generating income), Chef du Jour Program (daily meal provision), Monthly Birthdays Program (celebration support), and the Springboard Scholarship (education funding for alumni). The therapeutic shelter care is the primary service; all other programs exist to support the shelter operations financially and operationally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Lamb Shoppe: An upscale thrift shop located at 1765 South Patrick Drive, Indian Harbour Beach, FL, operated entirely by volunteer Guild members. All merchandise is donated and proceeds support The Haven for Children operations.
- Chef du Jour Program
- Springboard Scholarship
Products and services
- Therapeutic Shelter Care Licensed DCF therapeutic residential shelter care in a homelike environment for children from birth to age 18 removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Three group homes serve an average of ten children each with 24/7 care, counseling, physical therapy, and behavior modification therapy.
- The Lamb Shoppe Upscale thrift shop operated entirely by Haven Guild volunteers, selling donated toys, clothing, collectibles, household items, and antiques. 100% of proceeds are donated to The Haven for Children. Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
- Chef du Jour Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 4000 children served since 1987
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Haven for Children
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Haven for Children technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Haven for Children partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and foundational.
- Friends of Children of BrevardcoreGuild Chair Kathy Heron serves on the board of Friends of Children of Brevard. This nonprofit run by volunteers works to improve the lives of local abused children. The Superhero Run is the signature fundraising event for this organization.
- The Haven GuildflagshipFounded in 1990, the Haven Guild is a dedicated volunteer group raising support for The Haven. Nearly 100 founding members continue to volunteer. Guild operates the Lamb Shoppe, Chef du Jour program, and organizes fundraising events.
- Junior League of South BrevardfoundationalThe Haven began as a project of the Junior League of South Brevard in 1986. The nine-bed shelter opened in April 1987. The Junior League built and furnished Haven II which opened in October 2001. The organization was instrumental in establishing The Haven as a residential shelter for abused children.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
The Haven for Children competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KVC Health Systems: Nonprofit child welfare organization providing residential treatment, foster care, and family preservation services in multiple states. Operates therapeutic residential homes for children removed from their families — the closest direct service-line parallel to The Haven.
- Camelot Community Care: Nonprofit providing residential group care, therapeutic foster care, and behavioral health services for foster and at-risk youth. Direct comparability in therapeutic residential services for children in the child welfare system.
- National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP): Nonprofit providing residential treatment, therapeutic foster care, and community-based services for children and families in the child welfare system. Direct functional overlap in therapeutic residential care for at-risk youth.
Broad incumbents
- Children's Home & Aid: Mid-sized nonprofit providing residential care, foster care, adoption, and family support services for children in the child welfare system. Comparable residential group home model serving children removed from their families.
- Hillside Family of Agencies: Nonprofit providing residential treatment, education, and community-based services for children and families with complex needs. Comparable mission around 24/7 residential care for children with emotional and behavioral challenges.
- Children's Home Society of California: Long-standing nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, residential care, and child welfare services. Comparable in operating residential group homes for children removed from their families, though at broader scale and with extensive adoption/foster services.
- Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large nonprofit operating residential treatment centers and community-based programs for children with emotional, behavioral, and developmental disabilities. Directly comparable mission around therapeutic residential care for high-acuity youth.
- Boys Town: National nonprofit operating residential family-style homes and behavioral health services for at-risk children and families. Highly comparable therapeutic residential care model for children with severe emotional/behavioral needs, though at much larger scale and national footprint.
- Volunteers of America: National nonprofit providing residential and community-based services for vulnerable children, families, and seniors. Comparable in operating group homes and shelter services for children in crisis, though as part of a much broader service portfolio.
Regional players
- Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches: Florida-based nonprofit providing residential group care for at-risk and dependent children across multiple Florida locations. Comparable as a Florida-only residential care provider for children in state custody, though with broader age range and non-therapeutic positioning.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Haven for Children social profiles
Digital presenceThe Haven for Children compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
The Haven for Children financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Haven for Children leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
The Haven for Children funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Haven for Children M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Haven for Children
What does The Haven for Children do?
The Haven for Children provides licensed therapeutic residential shelter care for children from birth to age 18 who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The organization operates three licensed group homes in Brevard County, Florida, each serving approximately ten children with 24/7 counseling, physical therapy, and behavior modification services. Supporting offerings include the Lamb Shoppe thrift store, the Chef du Jour daily meal program, the Springboard Scholarship for alumni, and various volunteer-driven programs operated by the Haven Guild.
Is The Haven for Children a public or private company?
The Haven for Children is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Haven for Children founded?
The Haven for Children was founded in 1986. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Haven for Children based?
The Haven for Children is headquartered in Melbourne, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Haven for Children make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are planned Giving, lamb Shoppe Revenue, haven Guild Membership and event Fundraising.
Who are The Haven for Children's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KVC Health Systems, Camelot Community Care and National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP). Broad incumbents are Children's Home & Aid, Hillside Family of Agencies, Children's Home Society of California, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, Boys Town and Volunteers of America. Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is listed as a regional player.
Does The Haven for Children have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Haven for Children.
What industry is The Haven for Children in?
The Haven for Children's product category is Residential Child Welfare Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAO, Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDACALAH, Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.