History
In 1977, three groups of women from diverse backgrounds joined to form Hartford Interval House. These women represented the Asylum Hill Congregational Church, a support group for battered women, and a group of concerned women in the community who wanted to help battered women. Prior to the Battered Women’s Movement, this group recognized the need for services for victims of domestic violence and pledged to provide programs and support aimed at eliminating domestic violence.
Hartford Interval House opened its shelter door in April 1978. The 20-bed shelter, in a confidential location, provides residents an “interval” of safety where they can assess their situation and make choices for themselves and their children. On site, there are crisis counselors available to meet with the women upon arrival. Comprehensive domestic violence services are offered to all clients.
A satellite office, later known as Interval House East, opened in Manchester in February 1994 to better serve the 11 towns east of the Connecticut River. In April 1999 another satellite office, Interval House West, opened to serve towns in the Farmington Valley. By establishing offices at locations more convenient for clients, Interval House is better able to provide direct services. Today, Hartford Interval House is publicly known only as “Interval House” and serves 24 towns from Andover to Avon. It is Connecticut’s largest non-profit domestic violence intervention and prevention organization.
From its offices in Hartford, Manchester, and Simsbury, Interval House provides a 24-hour hotline, crisis counseling, emergency shelter, support groups, advocacy, criminal and civil court advocacy, information and referrals, community education, and a program for the children of clients. Interval House staff and volunteers have offered their expertise to adults and children 1977 and have served more than 164,000 victims of domestic violence.
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