Safe Journeys

What Safe Journeys does

Safe Journeys is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization headquartered in Streator, Illinois, that provides crisis support, emergency shelter, advocacy, counseling, and prevention education to survivors of domestic and sexual violence across LaSalle and Livingston counties. Founded in 1978 as 'First Step' by two Streator women, the organization was renamed 'Against Domestic Violence' in 1979 after securing funding from the LaSalle County 708 Board, expanded into sexual assault services in 1994, and rebranded to 'Safe Journeys' in 2018. Core service offerings include a 24/7 crisis support line (815.673.1555 and 800.892.3375), emergency short-term shelter, court advocacy, supportive counseling, case management, school- and community-based prevention education, the Partner Abuse Intervention Program (PAIP), and virtual services. All services are provided free and confidentially to survivors regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, or background, with Spanish-language support available; PAIP operates on a sliding-scale fee basis.

The organization delivers services through five physical office locations in Streator, Ottawa, Peru (opened 2018), Mendota (at IVCC), and Pontiac, supplemented by virtual delivery. Revenue is sourced from individual donations (cash, Venmo, Stripe, and planned giving), government grants (anchored historically by the LaSalle County 708 Board relationship), and a small sliding-scale fee stream from PAIP. The organization employs approximately 18 staff and maintains a community-led go-to-market model, with outreach through schools, healthcare facilities, courts, and community organizations, alongside a social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. No technology platform or proprietary software underpins the service model; the offering is fundamentally human-delivered social services.

Name

Safe Journeys

Legal name

Safe Journeys

Website

https://safejourneysillinois.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Safe Journeys is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 that provides free, confidential crisis support, emergency shelter, advocacy, counseling, and education to survivors of domestic and sexual violence across LaSalle and Livingston counties in Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Sexual assault support
• Crisis intervention services
• Emergency shelter services
• Survivor advocacy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Streator

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Safe Journeys operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization accepting monetary donations through cash, Venmo (@Safe-Journeys), and Stripe. Donations are tax-deductible and support operational costs to assist survivors. The organization also accepts estate planning bequests and other planned giving arrangements.
2. Government Grants: The organization received funding from the LaSalle County 708 Board starting in 1979, which was instrumental in purchasing the first domestic violence shelter. Ongoing government funding supports operations.
3. Sliding Scale Fees (PAIP): Partner Abuse Intervention Program (PAIP) services are offered on a sliding scale fee basis for persons who use violence against their partners, providing a revenue stream based on ability to pay.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Safe Journeys provides free, confidential crisis intervention, emergency short-term shelter, advocacy, counseling, and case management to survivors of domestic and sexual violence across LaSalle and Livingston counties in Illinois. Core offerings include a 24/7 Support Line, Safe Shelter, Court Advocacy, Supportive Counseling, Case Management, school- and community-based Education Programs, and a Partner Abuse Intervention Program (PAIP) delivered on a sliding scale fee basis. Services are accessed through five physical offices, virtual channels, and Spanish-language support, with no cost to survivors.

Product overview

Safe Journeys is a non-profit social service organization providing a coordinated suite of survivor-centered support services for domestic and sexual violence. The core offerings include a 24/7 Support Line, Safe Shelter, Court Advocacy, Supportive Counseling, Case Management, Education Programs, and the Partner Abuse Intervention Program (PAIP). Services are delivered through both physical locations (Ottawa, Peru, Mendota, Pontiac, and Streator) and Virtual Services. The organization also provides supplementary resources including Safety Planning tools, Recognize-Respond-Refer guidance, and myths education. All core services are free and confidential, while PAIP operates on a sliding scale fee basis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 24/7 Support Line 24/7 crisis support hotline connecting domestic and sexual violence survivors with immediate listening, safety planning, and referrals to shelter, advocacy, counseling, and community resources. Free and confidential.
• Safe Shelter Emergency, short-term shelter for persons unsafe due to domestic violence and their household members while they determine the best options for their family.
• Court Advocacy Support for survivors of domestic or sexual violence navigating the criminal and civil court systems, including assistance with orders of protection.
• Supportive Counseling Counseling helping survivors sort out feelings, develop new coping skills, and discuss options as they begin to heal and rebuild their lives.
• Case Management Staff-assisted services helping clients assess and prioritize needs and connect with appropriate community resources.
• Education Programs School-based and community-based education programs focused on prevention of domestic and sexual violence for youth and adult community members.
• Partner Abuse Intervention Program (PAIP) Assessments and 26-week psychoeducational groups for persons who use violence against their partners, offered on a sliding scale fee basis to address abusive and controlling behaviors.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SafePlace: SafePlace in Austin, Texas provides a comparable integrated suite of services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including emergency shelter, 24/7 hotline, advocacy, counseling, and case management. It is a directly comparable peer given its similar wraparound, survivor-centered service model in a defined regional catchment.
• Harbor House: Harbor House in Orange County, California operates emergency shelter, crisis line, advocacy, and prevention education programs for domestic violence survivors. It matches Safe Journeys on mission, service mix, and the community-based nonprofit operating model.

Regional players

• YWCA Metropolitan Chicago: YWCA Metropolitan Chicago provides domestic violence and sexual violence services in the Chicago region, including shelter, counseling, and advocacy. It is comparable in service mix but operates in a different (larger urban) Illinois geography than Safe Journeys' rural LaSalle/Livingston footprint.
• Between Friends: Between Friends is a Chicago-area nonprofit providing counseling, court advocacy, and education for survivors of domestic violence. It offers a comparable counseling-and-advocacy service set within Illinois but serves a different (metro Chicago) geography than Safe Journeys.
• Resilience (formerly Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network): Resilience is a Chicago-based network providing advocacy, training, and technical assistance to domestic violence service providers across Illinois. It is comparable as a regional ecosystem partner supporting DV/SA service delivery, though operating at a network level rather than direct-service delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Safe Horizon: Safe Horizon is one of the largest victims' services organizations in the U.S., offering hotlines, shelters, court advocacy, and counseling across New York City. It is comparable in core offerings but operates as a broad incumbent across a major metro rather than as a focused regional nonprofit.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides 24/7 crisis intervention, safety planning, and resource referrals nationwide via phone, chat, and text. It overlaps with Safe Journeys' 24/7 Support Line and case management referral work but operates at national scale rather than regionally.
• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and an affiliate network of local providers that deliver sexual assault crisis services. It mirrors the sexual-assault support component of Safe Journeys' expanded mandate but at a national coordination scale.

Others

• National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV): NNEDV is a national advocacy and capacity-building network for state and local domestic violence coalitions and service providers. It does not deliver direct survivor services but is thematically adjacent to Safe Journeys and an ecosystem player that shapes policy, funding, and best-practice standards for organizations like Safe Journeys.
• WomensLaw.org: WomensLaw.org provides plain-language legal information and resources for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including court advocacy content and referral directories. It is an enabling, non-direct-service peer that complements Safe Journeys' Court Advocacy and safety planning offerings through online information.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Safe.Journeys.Illinois
• Instagraminstagram.com/safe.journeys

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Safe Journeys