Shelter For Help in Emergency

What Shelter For Help in Emergency does

Shelter For Help in Emergency (SHE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1979 and headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia. It serves survivors of domestic and sexual violence across Planning District Ten, which includes the City of Charlottesville and five surrounding counties (Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson). The organization operates a 25-bed emergency shelter, a 24/7 crisis hotline, and a portfolio of direct services including prevention education, lethality assessment, trauma-informed mental health counseling, rural outreach, and Spanish-language services. Scale indicators include 400+ adults and children served annually, 1,200+ hotline calls, 5,000+ nights of safe shelter, and 5,000+ volunteer hours per year.

The organization's underlying capability is human service delivery — case management, clinical counseling, and community education — supported by partnerships with local law enforcement, the criminal justice system, the University of Virginia, and area schools. In 2008, SHE opened the first Gold LEED-certified domestic violence shelter in the United States, integrating physical-plant sustainability into its facility. Programs have been progressively expanded since 2003 to include bilingual services, disability-accessible programming (Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 2019 DOJ grant), and pet-safe foster accommodations. A leadership transition occurred in 2024, with Anna Mendez succeeding long-serving Executive Director Cartie Lominack.

SHE's business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than revenue-generating: services are delivered free of charge to survivors, and the operating budget is supported by individual donations, corporate and community fundraisers, private foundation grants, federal awards (including a 2019 U.S. Department of Justice grant), and government assistance (including a 2021 PPP loan that was subsequently forgiven). The organization operates without a proprietary technology platform, and no financials are publicly disclosed. Headcount is reported at 11–50 employees.

Name

Shelter For Help in Emergency

Legal name

Shelter for Help in Emergency

Website

https://shelterforhelpinemergency.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shelter For Help in Emergency is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Charlottesville, Virginia, that provides emergency shelter, a 24/7 hotline, counseling, and prevention services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Planning District Ten (Charlottesville plus five surrounding counties).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence Support Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Trauma-informed support
• Emergency shelter
• Victim advocacy services
• Community social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlottesville

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, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization accepts monetary donations from individuals, including one-time gifts, tribute gifts honoring loved ones, and special occasion donations. Donors can contribute online via credit/debit card or PayPal, or mail checks to the organization.
2. IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD): Individuals aged 70½ or older can donate up to $111,000 in tax year 2026 directly from their IRA to a qualified charity without counting it as taxable income. A QCD can satisfy part or all of Required Minimum Distributions.
3. Special Occasion Donations: Donors can make $50 donations in honor of special occasions (Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthdays) and the organization sends a personalized card to the honored person.
4. In-Kind Donations: The organization accepts gift cards (preferred from Kroger, Walmart, Food Lion, Shell, and Exxon in $25 increments) and items from their Amazon Wish List. This includes new individual items that can be immediately distributed to survivors.
5. Government Grants: The organization receives federal grant funding, including a Training and Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Federal Grant from the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (2019), and Payroll Protection Program loan through the American Rescue Plan Act (2021, later forgiven).
6. Signature Fundraising Events: The organization developed a signature fundraiser called Design House, inspired by the motto 'because peace begins at home' (started 2010). The organization also held annual fundraiser with Party Parade (1993).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Shelter for Help in Emergency provides free, trauma-informed services to victims of domestic and intimate partner violence in Central Virginia. Its core offerings include a 24-hour confidential hotline, emergency residential shelter (25 beds, up to six weeks), survivor advocacy and case management, legal advocacy and court accompaniment, an address confidentiality program, bilingual Spanish-language outreach, a pet-safe foster program, and school-based prevention education. All services are delivered free of charge to clients.

Product overview

Shelter for Help in Emergency operates as a single, unified social services organization providing comprehensive trauma-informed support to domestic violence survivors. The core offering is a suite of interconnected residential, community-based, and outreach services, including a 24-Hour Hotline, Emergency Shelter (25 beds), Survivor Advocacy, Legal Advocacy, Address Confidentiality Program, Services for Spanish-Speaking Community, Pet-Safe Foster Program, Prevention Programs (Safe Dates, Do YOU, Teen Advisory Board), Educational Programs, and volunteer opportunities. Supplementary content includes podcasts and audio educational series developed with university partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 24-Hour Hotline Confidential 24-hour crisis hotline available 365 days a year for victims and survivors seeking a safe place to talk, with V/TTY support and language interpretation available.
• Emergency Shelter Emergency temporary housing offering 25 beds for domestic violence survivors in Planning District Ten, with maximum stays of six weeks evaluated based on danger level and available resources.
• Survivor Advocacy Case management services helping victims access community resources including housing, employment, child care, substance abuse treatment, clothing, and food.
• Legal Advocacy Court accompaniment and assistance navigating the legal system, including help obtaining protective orders, available to shelter residents and community members.
• Address Confidentiality Program A cost-free, confidential mail-forwarding service for domestic violence victims who have recently relocated.
• Services for the Spanish-Speaking Community Bicultural, bilingual advocacy services for Spanish-speaking survivors of domestic violence.
• Pet-Safe Foster Program Foster program allowing clients to bring their pets when seeking emergency shelter, utilizing community organizations and individuals to temporarily care for animals.
• Prevention Programs Evidence-based primary prevention programming for middle and high school students, including Safe Dates and Do YOU programs, focused on healthy relationships and teen dating violence awareness.
• Educational Programs Free educational programs for civic organizations, schools, workplaces, allied professionals, faith communities, and other community groups requesting training on domestic violence awareness.
• Trauma-Informed Mental Health Counseling Trauma-informed mental health counseling for survivors, expanded as part of the organization's 2016 programming growth alongside the Lethality Assessment Program and Rural Outreach Program.
• Transitional Housing Program Second-stage housing program for clients who have difficulty finding housing that is both available and affordable after leaving the emergency shelter.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 400 adults and children annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• The Scrappy ElephantminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Scrappy Elephant at 1745 Allied St., Charlottesville, VA 22903 accepts in-kind donations on behalf of the Shelter. Donors can drop off items inside their building with staff members during business hours (Monday-Saturday, 10AM-6PM).
• UVA School of Medicine - Social Issues in Medicine ClassminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUVA medical students collaborated with the Shelter on the Shelter Health Series, creating a podcast series on Domestic Violence and Health featuring Dr. Christine Peterson, Dr. Jeanne Parrish, and Dr. Joanna Ajex.
• University of Virginia - Gender Violence & Social Justice ClassminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUVA students recorded podcasts on issues surrounding domestic/intimate partner violence and the role the Shelter plays in the community. Topics include DV in the Asian Community, Human Trafficking, IPV and Historical Oppression of Black People, Spanish-speaking resources, and more.
• Centel Volunteer GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centel Volunteer Group helped the program move into new, larger residential space in 1989 to accommodate clients needing longer stays out of their abusive situation.
• Local Criminal Justice SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 1996, the Shelter and members of the local criminal justice system joined together to establish a local council on domestic violence to coordinate responses and services.
• AmazonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Shelter maintains an Amazon Wish List for in-kind donations. Items ordered from the Wish List ship directly to the Shelter's mailing address. The registry reflects current survivor needs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sanctuary for Families: New York-based non-profit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling, and legal advocacy to DV survivors. Closely comparable service portfolio and non-profit funding model, with similar comprehensive trauma-informed approach but operating in a much larger urban geography.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: National 24/7 crisis hotline serving DV survivors with trained advocates — the most direct functional peer to Shelter's hotline offering (1,200+ calls/year), though operating nationally rather than regionally. Strong overlap in crisis intervention, safety planning, and resource referral services.
• Center for Domestic Peace: California-based non-profit providing DV intervention and prevention services including emergency shelter, hotline, and community education. Comparable comprehensive trauma-informed approach and emphasis on prevention programming, though serving a different geographic region.
• AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse): Florida-based non-profit providing crisis intervention, advocacy, and prevention services to DV survivors. Comparable service mix including hotline, counseling, and legal advocacy with similar non-profit funding model, though operating at larger scale and serving a different regional geography.
• House of Ruth (Maryland): Regional non-profit in the Baltimore area providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and counseling to DV survivors and their children. Closely comparable service model (shelter beds, hotline, advocacy, non-residential support) and similar community-based non-profit structure serving a defined regional catchment.

Broad incumbents

• Safe Horizon: Large New York-based non-profit providing DV, sexual assault, and human trafficking services including emergency shelters, hotlines, and counseling. Comparable comprehensive service portfolio with hotline and shelter operations, but operates at much greater scale and as part of broader victim services umbrella.
• RAINN: Largest anti-sexual violence organization in the U.S., operating the National Sexual Assault Hotline and supporting a network of local providers. Comparable in hotline/crisis intervention role and federal grant dependency, though focused on sexual violence rather than intimate partner violence specifically.
• YWCA USA: National non-profit network operating domestic violence shelters and sexual assault services across hundreds of local affiliates. Directly comparable to Shelter for Help in Emergency in service mix (emergency shelter, hotline, advocacy, prevention) but operates at national scale with broader programmatic remit including economic empowerment and racial justice.

Others

• National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV): National advocacy and policy organization supporting the DV field through training, public policy work, and resource provision. Not a direct service peer but a key ecosystem partner that influences federal funding and best practices that shape organizations like Shelter for Help in Emergency.

Emerging players

• Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA): Regional non-profit serving the DC metro area with DV counseling, advocacy, and education services. Comparable in trauma-informed service delivery and non-residential support model, though does not operate a residential shelter component like Shelter for Help in Emergency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ShelterforHelpinEmergency
• Instagraminstagram.com/shelterforhelpinemergency
• Xx.com/SHEShelter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shelterforhelpinemergency

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Shelter For Help in Emergency