Help and Emergency Response

Name

Help and Emergency Response

Legal name

Help and Emergency Response, Inc.

Website

https://hershelter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence and Crisis Shelter Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Domestic violence shelter
• Emergency housing services
• Crisis hotline services
• Sexual assault advocacy
• Human trafficking support

Headquarters

HQ city

Portsmouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monetary donations from individuals through online donation platforms (Zeffy, etapestry, Aplos), check/cash, and Amazon Smile program (0.5% of eligible purchases). The Restore HER Circle monthly giving program provides steady, reliable support.
2. In-Kind Donations: Accepts in-kind donations of household goods, clothes, cleaning products, paper products, furniture, mattresses, and other essential items for shelter residents. Receives items via Amazon Wishlist, scheduled deliveries, and occasional clothing/furniture drives.
3. Vehicle Donations: Partnership with Vehicles for Charity to accept car, boat, or RV donations in any condition. Donors can call 1-866-628-CARS or process online.
4. Grants: Programming supported through a variety of grants from government agencies and foundations including Virginia Department of Health (CACFP), Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development SHARE Program, Beazley Foundation, and United Way.
5. United Way Support: Certified by United Way of South Hampton Roads; receives funding through United Way campaigns and capital campaigns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Help and Emergency Response, Inc. (H.E.R. Shelter) operates three shelter facilities in Portsmouth and Chesapeake, Virginia providing emergency housing, a 24-hour crisis hotline, and comprehensive support services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and stalking. Services are provided free of charge and include case management, court advocacy, housing assistance, employment readiness, mental health coordination, children's programming, and community education.

Product overview

Help and Emergency Response, Inc. (H.E.R. Shelter) is a private, non-profit agency operating a coordinated portfolio of shelter and support services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, and homelessness. The organization operates three shelter facilities in Portsmouth and Chesapeake, Virginia: two Domestic Violence Shelters (Portsmouth and Chesapeake/Beazley Center for Hope) and one Restore Family Homeless Shelter. The core offering consists of emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis hotline, and intensive case management services, supplemented by specialized modules including Court Advocacy, Children's Programming, Employment Services, Housing Assistance, Mental Health Services, Under-Served Populations Outreach, and community education programs. Additional workforce development and youth programming includes Sweet Haven Baked Goods, Big Buddy mentorship, and Preschool Playtime. The organization also operates donation-based fundraising programs including the Restore HER Circle monthly giving program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Restore HER Circle: Monthly giving program where donors provide steady, reliable support to help the HER Shelter offer safe shelter, advocacy, counseling, and hope to survivors.

Products and services

• Portsmouth Domestic Violence Shelter Emergency shelter for women and children fleeing domestic or sexual violence, homelessness, or human trafficking. Houses Employment, Housing, Youth and Family Services, Court Advocacy, Hotline and After Care programs. Opened in 1995.
• Chesapeake Domestic Violence Shelter (Beazley Center for Hope) Emergency shelter opened March 9, 2015, the first of its kind in Chesapeake, providing services to a new population. Houses Executive, Administration, and Volunteer offices.
• Restore Family Homeless Shelter Year-round emergency homeless shelter acquired in September 2018 with 25 beds for homeless families. Operated through the Regional Housing Crisis Hotline.
• 24-Hour Emergency Hotline 24-hour hotline (757-485-3384) where trained advocates assist individuals needing information, referrals, or emergency housing for women and children.
• Sweet Haven Baked Goods Workforce development program founded by Olivia Smithberger to help survivors gain employment skills and independence.
• Restore HER Circle (Monthly Giving) Monthly giving program providing steady support for shelter operations, offering donors a recurring donation option through the Zeffy platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• 468 clients served in 2021-22
• +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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Vehicles for CharityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership enabling H.E.R. Shelter to accept vehicle donations (cars, boats, RVs) in any condition. Donors call 1-866-628-CARS or process online. This expands donation options for supporters.
• Virginia Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), providing nutrition services for shelter residents through federal food programs.
• The MountminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Hoops for the Homeless annual event - a 3-on-3 basketball tournament with food trucks, school supply giveaway, and family activities to raise awareness and funds.
• Signet CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for Hoops for the Homeless event at 884 Bells Mill Rd Chesapeake.
• Samaritan House Virginia BeachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister shelter and partner in Hampton Roads Human Trafficking Taskforce - a collaborative group of shelter, law enforcement, legal, and health professionals working to identify and serve trafficking victims.
• YWCA South Hampton RoadscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing sexual assault resources including emergency medical services (PERK examinations), shelter, counseling, and support. YWCA hotline: 757-251-0144.
• Norfolk State UniversityminorOthersUniversity internship program providing social work and other students for shelter programs since 1986.
• Old Dominion UniversityminorOthersUniversity internship program providing students for shelter programs since 1986.
• Network of LandlordscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing Advocate works with network of landlords and community connections to help clients achieve sustainable long-term housing.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• ForKids: Hampton Roads nonprofit providing emergency shelter and housing stabilization for homeless families, closely comparable to H.E.R.'s Restore homeless shelter operations.
• YWCA South Hampton Roads: Provides sexual assault and domestic violence crisis services, shelter, and counseling in the same regional market, overlapping directly with H.E.R.'s services.
• Samaritan House: Virginia Beach-based shelter and anti-trafficking nonprofit in the same Hampton Roads region; a named sister shelter and task-force partner serving nearly identical survivor populations.
• Union Mission Ministries: Norfolk-area provider of emergency shelter and services for homeless and vulnerable individuals in the same geography and social-services category.

Broad incumbents

• Safe Horizon: Large victim-services nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence, trafficking, and abuse with shelters and hotlines; overlaps in mission at far larger scale.

Others

• Polaris Project: National anti-human-trafficking organization running the trafficking hotline; thematically related to H.E.R.'s trafficking survivor services but focused on advocacy and hotline infrastructure.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: Operates a national crisis hotline and referral network for DV survivors; adjacent/enabling to H.E.R.'s 24-hour hotline and referral function rather than a direct local competitor.

Direct peers

• House of Ruth Maryland: Domestic violence nonprofit operating emergency shelter, counseling, legal and housing services—the same integrated survivor-support model as H.E.R. in a different state.
• Genesis Women's Shelter & Support: Provides emergency shelter, counseling, and advocacy for women and children fleeing domestic violence, directly comparable to H.E.R.'s core mission and service set.
• Doorways: Virginia nonprofit providing emergency shelter and housing for survivors of domestic violence and families experiencing homelessness, a close model match to H.E.R.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HERShelter
• Xx.com/hershelterinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/help-and-emergency-response-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Help and Emergency Response