A Place of Healing – A Voice of Hope.

ABOUT LYDIA'S HOUSE

Transitioning victims of domestic violence from crisis to confidence.

Lydia’s House offers secure housing and immediate community for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. We have 50 confidentially located, fully furnished apartments where families can find refuge, safety and support. Our transitional housing is one of the largest in the country and the only program of its kind in eastern Missouri.

Each family at Lydia’s House is provided an advocate to help guide them through the process of recovering from abuse. All family members are connected to support services, including individual and group resources, to help them build the skills that are necessary not only for surviving but thriving in the wake of trauma.

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Our staff are involved in:

Our Approach

At Lydia’s House, our approach to spirituality is open and inclusive. This perspective is not guided by the credo of any specific faith tradition. Rather, our goal is to help women get in touch with their own unique beliefs, and to offer resources that can help them nurture and care for their spiritual self. We believe offering an inclusive atmosphere honors women wherever they are on their personal journey, and allows them to choose whether or not their spiritual self is nurtured in connection with a particular faith tradition.

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Our Approach


At Lydia’s House, our approach to spirituality is open and inclusive. This perspective is not guided by the credo of any specific faith tradition. Rather, our goal is to help women get in touch with their own unique beliefs, and to offer resources that can help them nurture and care for their spiritual self. We believe offering an inclusive atmosphere honors women wherever they are on their personal journey, and allows them to choose whether or not their spiritual self is nurtured in connection with a particular faith tradition.

OUR MISSION

Lydia’s House provides domestic violence survivors and their children a safe place to heal, a voice for justice, and an opportunity for better and sustainable lives. 

If you are interested in donating or would like more information about Lydia’s House,

please contact our development coordinator at (314) 771-4411 or development@lydiashouse.org.

Our Team

The team at Lydia’s House is comprised of 12 full-time and 5 part-time staff members, supported by our dedicated volunteers. Due to the confidential nature of our work, the names of individual staff members are not posted.

Volunteering: volunteer@lydiashouse.org

In-kind Donations: development@lydiashouse.org

Tax Credits & Financial Donations: info@lydiashouse.org

Faith & Spirituality: info@lydiashouse.org

Pins by Lucinda: pinsales@lydiashouse.org

All Other Inquiries: info@lydiashouse.org

Our History

1994

Mary Albert, Martha Brunell, Dawn Stringfield and Doris Waggoner felt called to begin a ministry for abused women and their children. In speaking with other St. Louis-area domestic violence service providers, they found the community’s greatest need was for transitional housing and support services for survivors of domestic violence.

1995
Lydia’s House was formally established as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The first two-family building was purchased.
1996

Lydia’s House opened its doors with one full-time staff member. A second two-family building was donated and renovated by volunteers.

1997

The first residents achieved their goals and moved into housing of their own.

1998

A $250,000 capital campaign was launched to provide funds to purchase a multi-family apartment complex. Lydia’s House then sold one of the original buildings and purchased a larger apartment building which was modified to provide a combination of efficiency and one- and two-bedroom units. The staff expanded to three full-time employees to keep up with the growing organization.

1999

The new, larger building opened to residents, and Lydia’s House grew to serve 12 women and 18 children at a time in confidentially located, furnished apartments. Peer support groups were added to the programs, as well as community activities to provide additional support for the families served by Lydia’s House.

A Children’s Program was developed and staffed, and grew to include scouting, summer camping and activities and an after-school program. The Community Education and Outreach Program was added to create awareness of domestic violence and provide resources to the community. A program coordinator was added to the staff to support each woman as she worked toward independence.

2005
Lydia’s House opened its 25-unit apartment complex. With these additional apartments, Lydia’s House is able to serve 35 families at any one time. The new facility has program and administrative space with recreational facilities, a protected outdoor playground, a computer-learning center and space for arts and crafts, as well as classes in life skills, parenting, economic self-sufficiency and General Education Development (GED).
Today
In partnership with our generous donors, volunteers and community partners, Lydia’s House continues to provide critical support services and transitional housing to women and children who have experienced domestic violence.