Shelter, Advocacy & Education
The mission of Harmony House is to provide shelter, advocacy and education to survivors of domestic violence and promote the principle that all individuals have the right to a life free of abuse.
This mission is supported by four agency goals:
- To provide short-term emergency protective shelter for survivors of domestic abuse.
- To help survivors of domestic abuse break free through programs of education, support, referral and advocacy.
- To disseminate information to the community that promotes understanding about the factors involved in domestic abuse, its prevalence, causes, patterns and prevention.
- To advocate for changes that will provide the opportunity for a lifestyle free of domestic abuse for all people.
Vision Statement
A safe community where all individuals are free from domestic abuse.
Harmony House DEI Statement
At Harmony House, serving survivors of domestic violence is at the core of who we are and what we do. Harmony House is dedicated to fulfilling our mission by fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where all survivors, staff, volunteers and community members feel safe and empowered to create a culture that values people of all races, cultures and genders. Our core values of accountability, inclusiveness, innovation, integrity, equity and diversity are the foundation through which we provide empathetic and trauma-informed services in a safe, holistic environment that continually strives to be free from prejudice, bias and discrimination. Our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness (DEI) will be demonstrated through our policies, procedures and organizational goals.
Harmony House Core Values
Accountability – taking ownership of your actions or behaviors and being receptive to feedback.
Diversity – embracing a variety of backgrounds, genders, cultures, races, abilities and experiences to create a more holistic, creative and skilled organization.
Inclusion – intentionally embracing all, particularly those who have historically been excluded due to race, gender or ability; so that everyone has the opportunity to participate, be seen, and be heard.
Innovation – encouraging a culture that strives for creativity and originality in facilitating our mission.
Integrity – doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
Equity – striving to be an organization in which all individuals have the right to fair treatment, equal opportunity, and freedom from bias.
Our Approach
Harmony House has adopted the Full Frame Initiative as our approach to client care. The Full Frame Initiative (FFI) is an approach to working with people facing multiple and complex challenges that focuses on overall wellbeing and supports lasting change. FFI works to maximize the number of survivor assets while minimizing the number of tradeoffs that come with change or opportunity. The approach translates into an emphasis on the Five Domains of Wellbeing.
Individuals and families living at the intersection of poverty, trauma, violence, and oppression face constant threats to their wellbeing. Services designed to help them address a challenge in one area, gaining housing for example, may come with tradeoffs that aren’t taken into consideration. This approach leads to lasting change and sustainable outcomes.
History
Started by a concerned group of community members in 1976, Harmony House has been providing shelter and support services to domestic violence survivors ever since and has impacted the lives of over 21,000 women, men and children who have been served to date.
The center began as a grassroots all-volunteer organization with the first survivors being sheltered in volunteers’ homes and area hotels, then in rented shelter homes.
Harmony House was incorporated on May 10, 1976 as the Family Violence Center.
In 1977, the first shelter was established at 624 Clay Street.
In 1978, the hotline for domestic violence was established.
In 1986, the shelter moved to a larger facility at 1021 E. Walnut Street
Properties donated by Carol Jones and Bee Payne Stewart in 1996 enabled the shelter to expand services yet again.
In 1997, transitional housing services were established.
In 1999, the childcare building was constructed and daycare services and recreational activities for children were added.
In 2005 and again in 2007, internal renovations to the shelter increased capacity to 110 beds.
In 2007, outreach services began.
In 2010, the name of the organization changed to Harmony House.
In 2017, Harmony House moved into a new facility at 3404 E. Ridgeview Street in Springfield, expanding capacity from 110 to 168 beds and making Harmony House the largest DV shelter in Missouri.