Refuge House is the domestic and sexual violence center for Leon County and the seven neighboring counties in north Florida: Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla. Refuge House first opened its doors to provide emergency shelter on February 14, 1978, and later merged with Tallahassee Rape Crisis to also provide sexual violence services.

1978

1980

1983

1992

1994

1995-1998

1998

2000

Our first emergency shelter opens in Leon County on February 14th.

Rape Crisis services launched.

We hire our first children’s counselor, with support from the Tallahassee Junior League.

Refuge House Injunction Office opens in the Leon County Courthouse.

Passage of the federal Violence Against Women Act.

Rapid expansion into the seven neighboring rural counties.

Hospital-based Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program (SANE) founded.

Taylor County Emergency Shelter is opened.  The Gadsden Outreach Office is donated by the community.  The Capital Campaign supports construction of our new Leon County Emergency Shelter and Child Care Center.

2005-2008

2008-2011

2013-2014

2015-2016

Three phases of our Transitional Housing Program open in Leon County.

Spanish-speaking capacity is developed across all agency services.

Renovation of the Taylor County Emergency Shelter.

Strength through partnerships: Refuge House-DCF Child Welfare collaboration promotes family safety in eight counties.  Our InVEST partnership with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office promotes perpetrator accountability and enhanced advocacy services.

2016

2018

Refuge House opens stand-alone Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Center.

InVEST services expanded to Wakulla County.