Stepping Stone Shelter For Women

What Stepping Stone Shelter For Women does

Stepping Stone Shelter For Women, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1983 and headquartered in Michigan City, Indiana. It is the only emergency shelter program providing services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in La Porte County, Northwest Indiana, with a service portfolio spanning a 24/7 crisis hotline, emergency shelter, non-residential advocacy, a 15-unit Bridge Transitional Housing Program, medical and legal accompaniment (including SANE forensic exam support), counseling, life-skills training, and a Human Trafficking Program delivered in coordination with law enforcement.

The organization's core operational technology is a trauma-informed care framework embedded across all practices, protocols, and environments. This approach is grounded in five core values — Safety, Trustworthiness, Choice, Collaboration, and Empowerment — and is applied as an organizational universal precaution to avoid re-traumatization. All services are provided free of charge and confidentially, and the organization maintains a community-led go-to-market model combining direct crisis-line access, partner referrals (law enforcement, hospitals, schools, ICADV), and community education events such as the quarterly Community Conversations series.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit funding stack: individual donations (online via Network for Good, planned giving), corporate and foundation grants (Unity Foundation of La Porte County endowment, Health Foundation of La Porte, corporate matching gifts), state and local government grants, and special-event fundraising (annual Strength Soirée). Historical capital inflows include a $1.2 million grant in 1999 that funded the 15-unit Bridge complex and a $500,000 renovation grant in 2005-2007. The organization is led by Executive Director Kalah Riley with an Associate Director and a 12-member Board of Directors providing governance oversight.

Name

Stepping Stone Shelter For Women

Legal name

Stepping Stone Shelter for Women, Inc.

Website

https://steppingstoneshelter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stepping Stone Shelter For Women is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Michigan City, Indiana, providing free emergency shelter, a 24/7 crisis hotline, 15-unit transitional housing, and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in La Porte County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Shelter Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Domestic violence shelter
• Sexual assault services
• Human trafficking advocacy
• Transitional housing program
• Crisis intervention services

Headquarters

HQ city

Michigan City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations & Fundraising: Revenue raised through direct individual donations (online via Network for Good, mail-in checks), special events such as the annual Strength Soirée, themed collection drives, corporate matching gifts, and planned giving/estate gifts.
2. Government Grants & State Funding: Funding received from state government sources, including grants for transitional housing ($1.2 million awarded in 1999) and operational support. The organization receives state, grants, and local grants as part of its funding portfolio.
3. Corporate & Foundation Grants: Support from foundations and corporate giving programs, including endowment funds (Unity Foundation of La Porte County Endowment Fund), corporate matching gift programs, and sponsorships from businesses for the annual Strength Soirée event.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Stepping Stone Shelter for Women is a nonprofit organization that provides free, confidential emergency shelter, advocacy, counseling, legal accompaniment, and a 15-unit transitional housing program for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in La Porte County, Indiana. Services are delivered 24/7 via a crisis hotline, in-shelter residential care, non-residential community advocacy, and partnerships with law enforcement and healthcare providers, all anchored in a trauma-informed care framework.

Product overview

Stepping Stone Shelter is a nonprofit shelter organization providing emergency and transitional housing services alongside advocacy programs. The organization operates as a unified service delivery model centered on its core shelter operations, supported by four distinct programmatic pillars: the Domestic Violence Program, Sexual Assault Program, Human Trafficking Program, and Bridge Transitional Housing Program. Additional services include a 24-hour crisis hotline and non-residential advocacy. The organization does not offer a technology product; all offerings are direct service programs for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in Northwest Indiana.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Domestic Violence Program Provides 24-hour crisis support, emergency shelter, advocacy, safety planning, legal assistance, counseling, and life skills training for survivors of domestic violence and intimate partner violence.
• Sexual Assault Program Offers confidential advocacy, crisis support, safety planning, legal navigation including protective orders, counseling, and non-residential services for sexual assault survivors.
• Human Trafficking Program Provides trauma-informed awareness, outreach, education, and coordination with law enforcement and agencies to assist victims of sex trafficking and labor trafficking.
• Bridge Transitional Housing Program A 15-unit self-sufficiency program with fully furnished 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments for survivors completing emergency shelter, offering case management and goal planning services at no cost.
• 24-Hour Crisis Hotline Round-the-clock crisis line staffed by trained advocates providing immediate assistance, safety planning, and connection to shelter and resources.
• Non-Residential Advocacy Program Confidential advocacy services for survivors who do not need shelter but require support, resources, and case management in the county where they reside.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Way of La Porte CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way of La Porte County is listed as a partner organization supporting Stepping Stone Shelter. The partnership contributes to the organization's funding base and community resource network, helping coordinate services for survivors in the La Porte County area.
• Health Foundation of La PortecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth Foundation of La Porte is a community partner supporting Stepping Stone Shelter. The foundation provides funding and community health resources that help the shelter sustain and expand its services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
• Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICADV is the state-level coalition providing resources, brochures, and educational materials to Stepping Stone Shelter. The organization serves as a statewide advocacy body that coordinates domestic violence services across Indiana and provides Stepping Stone with training resources, policy guidance, and survivor education materials.
• Centier BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentier Bank is listed as a community partner and sponsor, contributing to the shelter's funding and community support network. The bank's logo appears in the organization's partner section.
• Law Enforcement (La Porte County)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStepping Stone Shelter works alongside law enforcement and other local and state agencies to provide trauma-informed awareness, outreach, and education on human trafficking. Advocates assist survivors in navigating the legal system, filing protective orders, and accessing justice through coordinated law enforcement partnerships.
• Hospitals and Healthcare Systems (La Porte County)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStepping Stone Shelter partners with local hospitals and healthcare providers to offer medical accompaniment, SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) forensic exam support, and crisis intervention. The shelter provides immediate support for survivors presenting at emergency rooms and medical facilities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: National 24/7 crisis, safety planning, and referral service for DV survivors. Overlaps with Stepping Stone's local crisis line as a broader incumbent that may absorb or route calls away from local shelters.
• Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV): Statewide coalition coordinating Indiana's domestic violence services. Stepping Stone is a member; ICADV distributes state/federal funding, training, and policy guidance — a broader incumbent in the same service category.

Direct peers

• The Julian Center: Indianapolis-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, counseling, and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Comparable full continuum-of-care model with transitional housing and 24/7 crisis services.
• Middle Way House: Southern Indiana (Bloomington) domestic violence and sexual assault shelter offering emergency housing, advocacy, and counseling. Similar community-based nonprofit model serving a defined county catchment.
• YWCA of North Central Indiana: Regional YWCA operating domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking programs in northern Indiana. Directly comparable model combining emergency shelter, advocacy, and crisis line services for women and children.
• A Better Way Domestic Violence Services: Muncie, Indiana-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, crisis intervention, and advocacy for DV/SA survivors. Similar scale, single-county focus, and referral-driven operating model.
• S-O-S of St. Joseph County: Indiana-based domestic violence and sexual assault shelter serving St. Joseph County (South Bend area). Closest geographic and programmatic peer — same state coalition (ICADV), comparable emergency shelter + advocacy model, single-county focus.

Regional players

• CAASE Chicago (Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation): Chicago-based nonprofit addressing sexual exploitation and human trafficking with advocacy, crisis intervention, and prevention services. Comparable human trafficking program focus, operating in an adjacent geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/steppingstonemc?s=11&t=w57pyeoDCuIamWqES-xgGQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ToLiveWithoutViolence
• Instagraminstagram.com/steppingstonemc?igsh=MXRranhkeHhkc2R5Nw==
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stepping-stone-shelter-for-women-incorporated

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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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 Stepping Stone Shelter For Women