Refuge for Women

What Refuge for Women does

Refuge for Women is a 501(c)(3) non-profit faith-based organization founded in 2009 in Lexington, Kentucky, that operates a multi-year continuum of residential care programs for adult women (18+) who have escaped human trafficking or sexual exploitation. Its service portfolio spans four tiers of free residential care: a 90-day Emergency House Program, a 12-month Long-Term Housing Program, a 12-18 month Transitional Living Program, and a Free to Flourish Affordable Housing Program with stays up to five years. Programming is trauma-informed and includes 24/7 staffing, counseling, psychiatric care, addiction recovery support, life skills training, educational assistance, and pre-employment services. All services are provided at no cost to residents.

The organization operates five active locations (Chicago, Kentucky/Lexington, Las Vegas, North Texas/Denton, and Texas Gulf Coast/Clute), totaling 84 residential beds and serving clients representing 22 states. Supporting products include Survivor Made, an artisan e-commerce social enterprise (candles, leather goods, jewelry, apparel) at survivormade.org; the Becoming Fearless podcast for young women ages 12-18; the Be S.A.F.E. training program on online safety and predator tactics; and an Education Scholarship Program with Indiana Wesleyan University. Revenue is generated entirely through charitable channels — individual donations, monthly giving, corporate and church partnership tiers (Barrier Breakers, Freedom Fighters, Wraparound Warriors), planned giving, stock and crypto donations, foundation and hospital grants, peer-to-peer fundraising, event galas, and Survivor Made product sales — with no government operating contracts disclosed. The organization holds ECFA accreditation, a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, membership in the National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance, and Safe House Project Silver Certification. The Pittsburgh program transitioned out as of May 1, 2025 to operate independently as Her Safe Haven.

Name

Refuge for Women

Legal name

Refuge for Women Inc.

Website

https://refugeforwomen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Refuge for Women is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating five U.S. residential locations (84 beds total) that provides free, faith-based trauma-informed care to women survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation across a 90-day to 5-year continuum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services — Trafficking Survivor Residential Care

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Human trafficking recovery
• Residential shelter services
• Trauma-informed care
• Survivor support programs
• Faith-based nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Lewisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individuals supporting the mission. Donors can give to specific locations or national organization.
2. Corporate & Church Partnerships: Partner program with membership levels (Barrier Breakers, Freedom Fighters, Wraparound Warriors) providing goods, services, funds, and referrals.
3. Planned Giving & Legacy Donations: Bequests, IRA rollovers, beneficiary designations, charitable remainder unitrusts, charitable lead trusts for long-term sustainable support.
4. Stock & Cryptocurrency Donations: Tax-efficient donation vehicles accepting stock transfers and cryptocurrency contributions.
5. Grants: Foundation and government grants including $60,000 from Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Joseph East.
6. Survivor Made Products: Artisan hand-crafted products (candles, leather goods, jewelry, apparel) created by survivors, creating jobs and building confidence.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Refuge for Women operates a multi-year continuum of faith-based, trauma-informed residential care programs for adult women survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. Programs include a 90-day Emergency House, a 12-month Long-Term residential program, 12-18 month Transitional Living, and up to 5 years of Free to Flourish Affordable Housing, all provided free of charge and supported through donations, grants, and corporate/church partnerships.

Product overview

Refuge for Women is a non-profit faith-based organization offering a multi-year continuum of residential care programs for women who have escaped human trafficking or sexual exploitation. The core product portfolio includes: Emergency House Program (90-day short-term shelter), Long-Term Housing Program (12-month residential), Transitional Living Program (12-18 months semi-independent), and Free to Flourish Affordable Housing (up to 5 years). Supporting services include Survivor Made artisan e-commerce (handcrafted candles, leather goods, jewelry, apparel), the Becoming Fearless podcast for young women, Be S.A.F.E. Training (online safety education), and an Education Scholarship Program. All programs provide trauma-informed, evidence-based care with around-the-clock staffing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Survivor Made: Artisan hand-crafted products including candles, leather goods, jewelry, and apparel created by survivors. Creates jobs and builds the confidence of survivors.

Products and services

• Emergency House Program 90-day short-term residential program providing safe housing in a low-barrier, trauma-informed environment with 24/7 staff support. Residents receive basic needs assistance, medical care, mental health services, substance use treatment, and case management. Admission is based on an application process.
• Long-Term Housing Program 12-month residential program offering daily trauma-responsive curricula, shared housing with 24/7 staff support, weekly individual and group counseling, psychiatric care, life skills training, educational assistance, and pre-employment readiness services. Requires a professional referral (advocate, case manager, or social worker).
• Transitional Living Program 12-18 month program offering continued physical and mental health services and addiction recovery support while residents practice semi-independent living. Residents must be employed full- or part-time, seeking employment, or enrolled in an educational program.
• Free to Flourish Affordable Housing Independent living in apartments with subsidized rent for residents attending school or working while continuing counseling and recovery services. Includes 2-bedroom units reserved for women with children. Stays of up to five years.
• Survivor Made Artisan hand-crafted product line creating jobs and building confidence of survivors. Products include candles, leather goods, jewelry, and apparel sold online through survivormade.org.
• Be S.A.F.E. Training Free training program focused on online safety, awareness of sextortion, tech-facilitated abuse including AI-generated threats, and predator grooming tactics. Available to youth, parents, schools, churches, and community groups.
• Education Scholarship Program Scholarship program for residents and graduates of Refuge programs to attend Indiana Wesleyan University or other accredited post-secondary institutions/trade schools. Requires 6 months active in program, good standing, and staff recommendation.

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Resorts World Las VegascoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Refuge for Women Las Vegas Restoration Home. Part of extensive corporate partnership network for the Las Vegas location.
• MGM Resorts InternationalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Las Vegas location programs and services for trafficking survivors.
• WalmartcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing support for Las Vegas location. Also general donor across organization.
• The Cosmopolitan of Las VegasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Las Vegas location through donations and community engagement.
• Union PacificminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Las Vegas location community initiatives.
• Southern Hills Baptist ChurchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partner providing spiritual support, volunteers, and community engagement for Las Vegas programs.
• The Crossing ChurchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor church partner supporting Las Vegas restoration home through volunteers, donations, and community outreach.
• 2nd CupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for Texas Gulf Coast location.
• Max Rehab & SportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare partner providing rehabilitation services to Texas Gulf Coast survivors.
• Houston Area Against Trafficking CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in collaborative anti-trafficking efforts in the Houston/Gulf Coast region.
• Indiana Wesleyan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner offering scholarship opportunities for residents and graduates of Refuge programs through existing partnership.
• Kentucky Secretary of StatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Secretary Michael Adams to launch Kentucky Businesses Against Trafficking initiative.
• Trademark Universal StoneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business contributing product and services donations for Louisville Emergency House construction.
• Safe House ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing Silver Certification to North Texas location, recognizing quality standards.
• Rise Up KingsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner collaborating with North Texas on anti-trafficking initiatives.
• National Trafficking Sheltered AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational alliance of trafficking shelters providing standards, advocacy, and network support.
• Human Trafficking HotlinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral resource for survivors needing immediate help. Listed as emergency resource on website.
• Polaris ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational resource organization referenced for survivors needing additional support services.
• SAMHSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration referenced as emergency resource for survivors.
• REEL KYcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing entrepreneurship training as part of Kentucky's 24 apartment initiative and career center program.
• Made180coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner developing onsite remote work center for residents unable to drive due to transportation barriers or disabilities.
• Fletcher GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partner evaluating skill sets and barriers for Kentucky residents.
• Fair Chance WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner helping women develop virtual interviews for future employers.
• One Hope Community ChurchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Chicago Truth About Trafficking 2024 event and ongoing church partner.
• Owens Law LLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBoard Chair Troy Owens provides legal expertise as board member of Chicago location.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• A21: International anti-trafficking nonprofit operating shelters, aftercare programs, and walk-in centers across multiple countries. Broader geographic scope and a wider portfolio of services but overlaps directly on residential survivor care.

Direct peers

• Restore NYC: New York-based nonprofit providing long-term housing and holistic aftercare for foreign-born survivors of sex trafficking. Comparable in its faith-informed, multi-year residential program design and survivor-focus.
• Sanctuary for Families: New York-based nonprofit operating shelters and providing comprehensive services for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, including residential care, counseling, and legal support — a closely analogous multi-service residential model.
• Magdalene House: Memphis-based nonprofit providing residential recovery for women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. Sister organization to Thistle Farms under the same Magdalene social enterprise model.
• Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST): Los Angeles-based anti-trafficking organization providing residential shelter, case management, and legal services to adult and minor trafficking survivors. Direct peer operating residential shelters for the same population.
• Thistle Farms: Nashville-based nonprofit offering residential recovery and a social enterprise (Thistle Stop Café, body-care products) for women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. Mirrors Refuge for Women's faith-based, multi-year residential model combined with a survivor-made product business.
• Her Safe Haven: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that spun off from Refuge for Women in May 2025 to focus on women survivors of sex trafficking overcoming addiction. Operates the same continuum model in the same metro and is the most direct structural peer.
• GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services): New York-based nonprofit serving commercially sexually exploited and domestically trafficked girls and young women, including residential programming. Direct peer in trafficking-specific survivor residential care.

Others

• Polaris Project: National anti-trafficking organization operating the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline. Not a residential provider but a critical referral partner and ecosystem player in the same survivor-services space.
• Safe House Project: National organization that certifies and supports residential shelters for trafficking survivors, including issuing Refuge for Women's Silver Certification. Adjacent infrastructure/standards body in the trafficking-shelter ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/refuge_for_women
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@refugeforwomen
• Facebookfacebook.com/RefugeforWomenNational
• Instagraminstagram.com/refuge_for_women
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/refuge-for-women

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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 Refuge for Women