Harbor House opened its doors in 1976 as a safe haven for survivors of domestic abuse and is the only State-certified shelter operating in Orange County, Florida. The agency has evolved into one of the most comprehensive domestic abuse centers in the U.S. and is considered a national leader in domestic abuse intervention, awareness and prevention. Our holistic approach to providing programs and services aimed at ending the cycle of domestic abuse is focused on investing in replicable solutions that drive community-wide systemic and social change.

Our main program is the 110-bed Emergency Shelter that is operated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for women, men and child survivors of domestic abuse. Harbor House is committed to its community promise to never turn away any survivor who seeks safety.

In addition to the Emergency Shelter that served 983 survivors during our last fiscal year, our Legal Advocacy program assisted 3,881 individuals seeking injunctions and other court services, and our Outreach program provided services including counseling, safety planning and community-based housing for hundreds of families. Our Prevention team focuses on youth programming centered around healthy relationships, bullying and safe bystander intervention. Our 24-hour crisis hotline answered more than 6,400 calls last year and provided a soothing voice of hope and a wealth of resources for those in acute need.

Our Children's Services Department provides DCF-certified daycare from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. The department provides three healthy meals each day to the children in daycare as well as a variety of activities, tutoring and special events.

In 2012, our five-acre Emergency Shelter campus expanded to include the Paws for Peace Kennel, which enables survivors to bring their pets with them when they flee—ensuring no family member is left behind in an abusive home.

We are the only domestic abuse center in the state of Florida with both a daycare and a kennel, which aligns with our holistic approach of wrap-around services that ensures all family members will be safe and can heal and thrive. When families are thriving, so is our community.

Join our efforts to keep our community safe!