Unfortunately, the end of her particular story is a very tragic one… her life was cut short with her untimely death at age 38. In 1991, a few local women formed the South Orange County Domestic Violence Action Committee with the dream of building a shelter for battered women in South County. After being contacted by Laura’s mother and hearing that Laura had nowhere to turn to for resources to help her, the women were committed to making their dreams become a reality. In 1994, local residents, including co-founders, Sandy Condello and Helen Kendall, called a town meeting and asked for the community to embrace their vision of Laura’s House. There was an overwhelming response from the community with support and funding. It was then decided that the agency would be named in memory of Laura.
Laura’s House provides shelter and supportive services to women, men and children. Counseling, life skills, education, legal advocacy and resources are also provided. Laura’s House operates on the philosophy that domestic violence is a multi-dimensional and often cyclical in nature, and must be addressed through a range of interventions. Our goal is to provide supportive services that will prepare our clients and their children to live independent and violence-free lives with an emphasis on education and prevention for future generations.
Today Laura’s House continues to be the only state-approved comprehensive domestic violence agency in South Orange County. Annually, Laura’s House provides residential shelter services, transitional housing, counseling and workshops, and legal services to thousands of individuals. Over 3000 crisis calls come in each year on our 24/7 Crisis Hotline.
Changing social beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.
We serve individuals, families, and others who are affected by domestic violence. Laura’s House strives to be a nationally recognized and leading authority for resources and education for the prevention and response to domestic violence issues.
Client/Mission Focused
We live it by continually assessing the client’s needs and formulating programs and services to empower them for success.
Communication
We live it by building open and honest interactions based on trust and respect to foster understanding and a healthy environment.
Respect
We live it by understanding that it takes people with different ideas, strengths, interests and diverse backgrounds to create a unified and inclusive culture. We encourage healthy discussion and differences of opinion.
Compassion
We live it by having the vision to see and encourage others in an understanding and empathetic manner.
Collaboration
We live it by working together to achieve a common goal while utilizing the collective strength from all stakeholders.
Innovation
We live it by striving to redefine the standard of excellence in everything we do. We are open to ideas that challenge the conventional view and create the opportunity for change.
THE NEED IS REAL…
Survivors Served: 5,059
Prevention/Education Reach: 27,037
Hotline Callers Assisted: 4,488
Led by Sandy Condello and Helen Kendall, a group of concerned citizens gather together to create Laura’s House – in honor of Laura who died at age 38 at the hands of her abuser. Laura’s House Walk-In Center opens, offering resources, referrals and support groups to victims of domestic violence.
Laura’s House Emergency Shelter opened at an undisclosed location in South Orange County. There was tremendous community support from organizations like South Orange County Community Services, San Clemente Junior Women’s Club as well as many other local civic service groups. Laura’s House of Treasures Thrift Store opens in San Clemente, CA to help raise much needed funds to support the programs and services that Laura’s House provides.
The newly rebuilt Emergency Shelter opens in December and is a 10-bedroom residence able to house up to 55 women and children. The Cornerstone Capital Campaign is a great success. A newly revamped, Laura’s House website was launched (available in Spanish, as well), creating a comprehensive resource for victims of domestic violence as well as the general public offering resources, information and offering the community ways to get involved, attend special events and volunteer.
The Laura’s House Transitional Program opens in March serving up to 25 individuals at a time. Laura’s House hosts its inaugural Teens Together to End Dating Violence Candlelight Vigil in honor of Jacquie Villagomez, at El Toro High school with over 100 people in attendance.
Laura’s House celebrates our 20th Anniversary, serving over 45,000 individuals since our inception through our 24-Hour Hotline, Emergency Shelter, Transitional Living Program, Counseling & Resource Center and Legal Advocacy. Laura’s House legal advocates expand the reach of the legal program by conducting intakes with new clients at the courthouse one day per week. In just one month, this new program doubled the number of new legal clients seen and service units provided to legal clients increased by 169%. Laura’s House joins Instagram and LinkedIn to complete the expansion of our Social Media networking.
Laura’s House celebrates our 25th year serving individuals affected by domestic violence, providing shelter with support services to more than 5,400 abused men, women and their children and non-residential direct services including 24-hour crisis intervention, counseling, life skills education and legal advocacy to over 59,000 persons.
Laura’s House launches Man.Kind OC Program to empower young men to have relationships free of violence and support positive character development. Launch of H.E.A.R.T. Portal facilitators training to expand prevention education and make Laura’s House H.E.A.R.T. workshop curriculum available to facilitators globally.
In partnership with the Aliso Viejo Chamber of Commerce, Laura’s House hosts the official Open House & Ribbon cutting for the Domestic Violence Resource Center and Laura’s House headquarters at 33 Journey, Aliso Viejo, CA. Laura’s House launched the first annual “Move to End Domestic Violence Fitness Challenge”.
Laura’s House launches the newly transformed Education and Outreach Department – H.O.P.E., an acronym that signifies Healing, Outreach, Prevention & Education. H.O.P.E. is now integrated with our existing Community Education and Prevention Education divisions, formerly known as the Prevention Education Department. This innovative approach aims to broaden our collaborative capabilities and reinforces our commitment to creating opportunities for positive change.
Laura’s House hosts a highly successful summit centered around the critical subject of Sextortion and Online Safety. The primary emphasis was on protecting our children from online predators and equipping parents with the tools to effectively communicate the potential risks associated with social media and online gaming. More than 160 peer organizations join us for the event with a 100% satisfaction rating in our evaluations.
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Laura’s House
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A Little Help Foundation • A. Gary Anderson Family Foundation • A. Setya Dental Group • Alpha Chi Omega • Argyros Family Foundation • Bagne Family Foundation • Borchardt Giving fund • CA Foundation for Stronger Communities • Carl E. Wynn Foundation • Crean Foundation • Crevier Family Foundation of OCCF • Day Family Foundation Trust • Devto Support Foundation • Dhont Family Foundation • F. Comerford • G. & D. Stillwell Charitable Trust • G. & J. Anderson Family • G. Hoag Family Foundation • Glass Family • Green Foundation • Hermann Foundation • I-Rise Foundation • J. MacPherson Foundation • J. Murray • Jerome Foundation •K Inman • K. Lester •L Lafreniere • L. Khouri & M. Hayde • M. & E. Barcelo • M. Hoeffliger • M. Oser Fund • McDonald Family Foundation • Movement Church • N. & G. Stack • Norman & Sadie Lee Foundation • OC Bar Association • OCUW — Womens Philanthropic Fund • S Martin • Sharon Mae Fund of OCCF • Shelly Family Foundation • Smiles for Life Foundation — Hales Parker Dentistry • Sue J. Gross Foundation • Swayne Family Foundation • T. Savage • The Sunshine Fund • Ueberroth Family Foundation • Visionary Women • Womens Foundation of California • Zeller Family • Zonta Club of Newport Harbor
Allstate • Applied Medical • Bob’s Discount Furniture • Capital Group • CC Calhoun Inc. • Chapman University • Citibank • Creative Package McKahan Inc. • Dermody Properties Foundation • Dito Devcar Foundation • Edwards Lifesciences • Farmers & Merchants Bank • Fluidmaster • Impac Foundation • In-N-Out Foundation • KFC Foundation • Laloo Vision Inc. • Morgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation • Ms. Molly Foundation • National Colloid • Newport Dunes • Nossaman LLP • O.L. Halsell Foundation • Pacific Life Foundation • Performance Cleanroom Services, Inc. • R.D. Olson Development • Rainbow Sandals • RiteAid • Robert Half • Smart & Final • Starbucks • Stater Brothers • The Rosendin Foundation • The TJX Foundation • US Bank
Thanks to the continued support of our generous individual, foundation, and corporate donors, we were able to spend almost $5m (82% of revenue) on direct program services to benefit our clients by providing shelter, counseling, and legal support services.
Annually, we undergo a financial audit by an independent audit firm.
Singer Lewak LLP, Accountants and Consultants