The Hartford Interval House shelter opened its doors to battered women and their children in April 1978. Since then, over 3000 women and over 4000 children have taken refuge from violent homes. The 20-bed shelter, in a confidential location in Hartford, provides residents an "interval" of safety where they can assess their situation and make choices for themselves and their children.

Today, Hartford Interval House is the only comprehensive domestic violence program serving the 24 towns of Greater Hartford and the largest provider of Domestic Violence prevention and intervention services in the State. Much more than just a shelter, Interval House provides such services as a 24-hour Hotline, information and referrals, advocacy, peer support groups, victim advocacy in the courts, a volunteer program, children's programs, a satellite office in Manchester and community education.

These programs provide the safety net for women and children who are faced with the everyday horror of violence in their homes. Hartford Interval House is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, to support and provide advocacy to victims of Domestic Violence in a confidential and non-judgmental manner.

Mission Statement
The mission of Hartford Interval House is two fold:

to bring an end to Domestic Violence in our service area by engaging the community 10 work together to prevent Domestic Violence

and

to provide victims with emergency shelter and support and advocacy services.

Services and Program

• 24-Hotline
  Victims of domestic violence can call our Hotline, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some callers need immediate protection from a violent situation. Some need information about other services. Some need to talk about violence past or present. The Hotline, 527-055O, is answered by staff and volunteers who have information, can make referrals and explain options and are who excellent listeners.

• Shelter
  Our 20-bed shelter is in a confidential location. Residents may stay up to six weeks, an "interval" during which they are safe from violence to examine their options and make choices about the future.

• Advocacy
  Both residents and telephone clients receive counseling and advocacy. Efforts may include help obtaining restraining orders, receiving financial assistance, getting medical, housing and educational needs met and dealing with police and the courts. And we help victims learn to advocate for themselves in these and other instances

• Victim Advocate Program
  Four victim advocates, in Hartford, Manchester and West Hartford, help victims in criminal cases of domestic violence The victim advocate's job is to insure that victims' desires are heard and considered by the court.

• Womenshare
  Womenshare was the grass roots support group whose members helped found Hartford Interval House in 1977. Five different Womenshare groups now meet: an English group and a Spanish group in Hartford and groups in Manchester, Avon and West Hartford. Meetings are for battered and formerly battered women to share experiences, fears and hopes with others who are or have been in similar circumstances.

• Children's Program
  More than half of our residents are children. Even when they have not been abused, children are profoundly affected by violence in their homes. Our child advocates help them understand and cope with their feelings. They also advocate for children with various social service agencies. Kidshare, a support group for children, meets during Womenshare meetings. The children's program also includes community outreach to area schools about domestic violence and date violence.

• Community Education
  Providing services to victims of domestic violence is essential, but preventing that violence in the first place is also vitally important. Interval House conducts an average of ten speakings and in-service trainings a month about Domestic Violence. Volunteers, staff and board members comprise our speakers' bureau. Extensive in-service trainings are conducted at schools and police departments. Brief speakings are given at club meetings, in the workplace and 10 religious organizations.

• Volunteers
  From its inception, Hartford Interval House has relied heavily on volunteers to answer the Hotline, to advocate for victims in the Courts, to help with children's programs, to speak to community groups and to Serve On various committees. Three volunteer trainings are conducted yearly. Response has been so good lately that classes have filled quickly, and names have been placed on a waiting list. Approximately 50 individuals currently volunteer at Interval House, In addition, students from the UConn Law School volunteer to give residents and clients information about their legal rights and options.

• Domestic Violence Intervention Services
  A satellite office located in Manchester provides services to victims of domestic violence who live in the eleven towns in our service area east of the Connecticut River. These services include a 24 hour Hotline, information and referral, advocacy and counseling.

• Outreach Program
  This program pairs domestic violence workers with police officers in Hartford and Manchester to work with victims of domestic violence.