Women in Safe Homes

What Women in Safe Homes does

Women in Safe Homes (WISH) is a private non-profit agency founded in 1977 in Ketchikan, Alaska, that provides confidential crisis intervention, prevention, and advocacy services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes across Southern Southeast Alaska. The organization began as an all-volunteer grassroots effort meeting in private homes and church basements during the International Year of the Woman in 1976, began direct service in 1978, and acquired its permanent 32-bed shelter in December 1980 with HUD grant funding. WISH operates a unified service model centered on the 32-bed emergency shelter and a 24/7 crisis hotline (907-225-9474 / 800-478-9474), supplemented by community-based advocacy, legal advocacy, forensic exam accompaniment, safety planning, transportation, housing support, food boxes, children's services, and telehealth for rural communities on Annette Island, Prince of Wales, and Wrangell.

The organization's product portfolio extends beyond crisis response to include the Elinore's Place Child Advocacy Center for forensic interviews and family support, plus an extensive prevention and education suite aligned with Alaska Safe Children's Act (Erin's Law and Bree's Law) and evidence-based curricula such as The Fourth R, 3 Rs, Second Step, SafeTouch, Safer Smarter Teens, Girls on the Run, Let Me Run, Coaching Boys into Men, and Green Dot bystander intervention training. Services are delivered free of charge and anonymously to clients across all demographics. The technology underpinning operations is minimal: a Squarespace website, Microsoft Forms for client intake, and standard phone/email channels, with no proprietary platform or mobile app.

WISH's business model is that of a non-profit funded through a mix of federal Family Violence Prevention and Services Program grants (Grant 90EV0473-03-00 from HHS/ACF), State of Alaska Department of Social Services contracts, prior HUD and LEAA grants, tax-deductible community donations, and membership contributions. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth, law enforcement and social service referrals, school-based programs, and a regional partner network including HOPE on Prince of Wales, BRAVE in Wrangell, Ketchikan Indian Community Victim Services, ANDVSA, CDVSA, and the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District. Customer segments comprise victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, children and non-offending caregivers, families impacted by violence, K-12 students, and partner agencies receiving training.

Name

Women in Safe Homes

Legal name

Women in Safe Homes

Website

https://wishak.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Women in Safe Homes (WISH) is a Ketchikan, Alaska-based private non-profit operating a 32-bed emergency shelter with 24/7 crisis intervention, child advocacy center, and school-based prevention education, serving victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes across Southern Southeast Alaska.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crisis Response & Threat Assessment (Suicide Prevention, Violence Prevention) (EDAJAIAH), Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Sexual assault advocacy
• Crisis intervention shelter
• Victim support services
• Violence prevention education

Headquarters

HQ city

Ketchikan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Memberships: WISH relies on tax-deductible contributions and membership fees from individuals and organizations. Donations can be made online via credit card or in person at the shelter.
2. Government Grants: The organization receives federal funding through the Family Violence Prevention and Services Program (Grant Number 90EV0473-03-00) administered by the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Prior grants have included State of Alaska contracts, HUD grants, and LEAA grants.
3. Direct Client Services (Free): All services to victims and survivors—including shelter, crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, legal assistance, and prevention education—are provided free of charge to clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WISH operates a 32-bed emergency shelter and 24/7 crisis hotline serving victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes in Ketchikan and Southern Southeast Alaska. The organization delivers free, confidential direct services including crisis intervention, safety planning, legal advocacy, court accompaniment, counseling, child advocacy through Elinore's Place CAC, transportation, housing support, and food assistance. It also runs school-based prevention education, extracurricular youth programs, and agency training on violence prevention.

Product overview

Women in Safe Homes (WISH) is a grassroots nonprofit organization providing domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy services in Ketchikan and Southern Southeast Alaska. The organization operates a unified service model centered on a 32-bed emergency shelter with 24/7 crisis support, supplemented by community-based advocacy, legal services, and a Child Advocacy Center (Elinore’s Place). The portfolio includes core victim services (crisis intervention, safety planning, adult and children’s advocacy, legal advocacy, support groups, transportation, housing support, food assistance), prevention and education programs for schools (The Fourth R, 3 Rs, Healthy Relationships Classes, Teen Dating Violence Awareness, Body Safety Presentations utilizing Second Step, SafeTouch, and Safer Smarter Teens curriculums), extracurricular youth programs (Girls on the Run, Let Me Run, Lead On! For Peace and Equity, Coaching Boys into Men), agency training programs (Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault, ACEs, Healthy Relationships, LGBTQIA+, Green Dot Bystander Intervention), and Child and Family Services (case management, parenting classes, counseling, supportive navigation). The services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter A 32-bed shelter providing safe housing for victims and survivors of domestic or sexual violence and their children, with 24/7 crisis intervention.
• 24-Hour Crisis Line A 24/7 crisis line staffed by trained advocates for victims of domestic and/or sexual violence to call at any time at 907-225-9474 or 800-478-9474.
• Safety Planning Personalized, practical plans to help victims maximize their safety during, leaving, or after an abusive situation.
• Legal Advocacy Assistance with protective orders, divorce filing, custody paperwork, and court accompaniment.
• Sexual Assault Response Advocate accompaniment to hospital for forensic exams, rights information, and support regardless of law enforcement reporting.
• Adult Advocacy Support with employment, housing, benefits, healthcare, treatment, childcare, and other needs.
• Support Groups Educational support group helping victims understand dynamics of abuse, offered in partnership with Ketchikan Indian Community.
• Children's Advocate Services Family support with children impacted by violence, including activities, resources, and community outings.
• Emergency Transportation Emergency transportation to shelter in Ketchikan from communities throughout Southern Southeast Alaska.
• Housing Support Programs Programs to help cover rent and bills, plus navigation of other housing resources.
• Food Boxes Free food boxes for people who have accessed WISH services within the past six months.
• Child and Family Services Case management, parenting education, counseling, and housing assistance for families achieving ongoing safety, accessible in person in Ketchikan and Saxman, and via telehealth on Annette Island, Prince of Wales Island communities, and Wrangell.
• Elinore's Place Child Advocacy Center Child-friendly, community-based neutral setting for forensic interviews and support for children under 18 alleging child maltreatment in Southern Southeast Alaska.
• School-Based Prevention Education Alaska Safe Children's Act compliant programs (Erin's Law and Bree's Law) providing age-appropriate lessons on body safety, healthy relationships, and teen dating violence prevention across all schools in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District.
• Agency and Adult Training Programs Free trainings for agencies, businesses, and adults on domestic violence, sexual assault, ACEs, healthy relationships, LGBTQIA+ terms, and Green Dot bystander intervention.

Quantifiable outcome

• 32-bed shelter capacity serving victims and their dependents
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) Victim Services ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIC provides victim services for tribal community members. WISH partners with KIC's domestic violence program to offer a joint educational support group meeting weekly. KIC also provides counseling services accessible to WISH clients. Contact: 907-228-9490.
• HOPE (Prince of Wales)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner organization on Prince of Wales Island that provides local support services and connections to WISH's shelter and programs in Ketchikan.
• BRAVE (Wrangell)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner organization in Wrangell providing local support services and connections to WISH resources.
• Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide coalition of 18 programs providing services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, including emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis hotlines, food, clothing, transportation, legal assistance, counseling, and community education.
• Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlaska state council responsible for ensuring statewide crisis intervention services, perpetrator accountability programs, and prevention services. Provides oversight and coordination for local shelter programs.
• Ketchikan Gateway Borough School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISH supports district implementation of Alaska Safe Children's Act (Erin's Law and Bree's Law) through developmentally appropriate lessons on body safety, healthy relationships, teen dating violence, and related topics for all schools in the district.
• Green Dot AlaskasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISH brings the Green Dot Alaska bystander intervention training to Ketchikan, teaching personal barriers to intervention, the 3 D's of intervention, and community culture change to reduce violence.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• YWCA Alaska: YWCA chapters in Alaska and across the U.S. provide DV/SA shelter, advocacy, and prevention services. While YWCA's footprint is broader, individual Alaska-area chapters compete with and complement WISH for the same client population and funding streams.

Broad incumbents

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: The Hotline operates a federally funded 24/7 national crisis line and resource referral service for DV/SA victims. It is a broad incumbent that complements (rather than directly competes with) WISH's local crisis line through referrals.
• National Children's Alliance (Elinore's Place peer network): National Children's Alliance accredits and supports Child Advocacy Centers such as WISH's Elinore's Place. It is a broad incumbent setting standards and providing funding pathways that directly support WISH's CAC operation.
• Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA): ANDVSA is a statewide coalition of 18 DV/SA programs in Alaska providing shelter, crisis lines, advocacy, and training. It is a broad incumbent that channels funding and sets standards for WISH and similar direct-service member programs.

Direct peers

• BRAVE (Wrangell): BRAVE provides DV/SA advocacy and referrals in Wrangell, Alaska, and connects clients to WISH shelter and program resources. It is a direct regional peer mirroring WISH's service model in a smaller community.
• Standing Together Against Rape (STAR) Alaska: STAR provides statewide sexual assault crisis intervention, advocacy, training, and prevention in Alaska. It directly overlaps with WISH's sexual assault response, forensic exam accompaniment, and prevention programming.
• Abused Women's Aid in Crisis (AWAIC): AWAIC operates the largest domestic violence shelter in Anchorage, Alaska, providing emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis line, advocacy, and prevention education. As another federally and state-funded Alaska DV/SA program, it is the closest comparable operational model to WISH in the state.
• HOPE on Prince of Wales: HOPE is a WISH partner organization on Prince of Wales Island providing local DV/SA response and referrals into WISH's Ketchikan shelter. As a direct service counterpart in WISH's regional service area, it is a near-perfect operational peer.
• AWARE (Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies) - Juneau: AWARE is a Juneau-based nonprofit delivering DV/SA crisis intervention, shelter, advocacy, and prevention education throughout Southeast Alaska. It is a direct regional peer with an overlapping service portfolio and identical funding mix.
• SafePlace Alaska (formerly known as Alaska's Council on Domestic Violence member programs): SafePlace and other CDVSA-funded shelter programs across Alaska share WISH's funding architecture (federal pass-through, state contracts) and direct-service DV model. Coalition-level operational and funding comparability is high.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wishak
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-in-safe-homes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Women in Safe Homes