In 1976, domestic violence was a growing issue in Connecticut. Because no dedicated services were available to victims, women were calling rape crisis hotlines for support. Domestic violence was considered a “family problem” and adequate protective laws were not yet in place. Animal shelters had been around for decades, yet victims of intimate partner abuse had no safe place to go.
In Hartford, members of the Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, a support group for female victims in Manchester, and a group of concerned community women all saw the problem and wanted to help. Recognizing the need for safety and services for victims of domestic violence, they pledged to provide programs and support aimed at eliminating abuse. The three groups joined forces, and in February 1977 Interval House was incorporated.

Since those humble and passionate, grass-roots beginnings, Interval House has grown into a comprehensive intervention and support agency, serving 6,500 clients per year in 24 towns both East and West of the Connecticut River. We provide compassionate and confidential 24-hour hotline response, safety planning, crisis counseling, emergency safe housing, support groups, criminal and civil court advocacy, information and referrals, children’s programming, and community education and outreach—all at no cost.

For a look back at their history and some of the significant events that have impacted how they collectively address domestic violence as a society follow this link.