About Us

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Mission Statement

Safe Harbor is dedicated to the prevention of all forms of domestic abuse and sexual assault in the community through raising awareness, education and providing safety, shelter and support for all victims.

Safe Harbor was established in September of 1990. We began with two staff members working in a two bedroom home which housed the shelter and administrative offices.

In July 1996 we renovated a new shelter facility which houses residential living space, an indoor play area for children, and office and counseling space. In October of 2000 our administrative team moved to an off-site facility provided by St. Nicholas Hospital so that space at the shelter facility would be better utilized to meet the needs of the people we serve. As of December 2006, our administrative offices are located at 1930 North 8th Street, Sheboygan, WI.

There are fewer than 735 "safe beds" for battered women and their children in Wisconsin. In Sheboygan County we have 16 beds. Our facility is the only domestic violence shelter in the county. Women and their children who stay at the shelter are provided with room and board as well as personal needs.

In addition to the crisis line and shelter we offer: abuse assessments, crisis counseling, assistance in obtaining restraining orders, legal referrals, court accompaniment, support groups, advocacy, emergency transportation, financial assistance, child care, and information and referral services.

All services are available, at no cost, to anyone who is a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault. A person is not required to come to the shelter in order to receive assistance.

Safe Harbor operates with significant support from St. Nicholas Hospital and grants from the State of Wisconsin. This support covers less than 50% of our total annual operating budget. Because of our limited resources, we rely on donations from community foundations, groups, organizations and individuals. We need financial support as well as donations of goods and services in order to meet the needs of those who turn to us for help and for hope.

We have approximately 25 active volunteers who donate time and talent performing a variety of tasks including serving on the Board and its committees and providing direct service to victims and their children.

We have seen a significant increase in the number of people served as well as in the services we have provided since we began operating the program in 1990. In 2005 we provided 3,604 nights of shelter to 92 women and 102 children. Those numbers represent an increase of approximately 35% over 2004.