During Women’s History Month, we want to celebrate the resilience of generations of women, girls, and female-headed families who have been part of the Milwaukee Women’s Center’s community of care.

Since 1980, the Milwaukee Women’s Center has been a provider of comprehensive support services, domestic violence support groups and case management, recovery support services, day treatment for women, batterer's education for men, onsite therapy, children’s programming, and specialized substance abuse services for pregnant women and mothers who are living with a substance use disorder.

Services were first offered within a mission to research, develop, and administer programs to end domestic abuse and the center, then an independent nonprofit, offered a range of high-quality and innovative prevention, intervention, and supportive services that responded to the needs of women, men, and children who are experiencing family violence, homelessness, alcohol and drug abuse, mental health, and poverty.

In 2007, the Milwaukee Women's Center merged with Community Advocates with the intention of improving and enhancing the existing services provided by each agency. For Community Advocates, the acquisition of the Milwaukee Women's Center filled a programming gap that addressed the physical and mental safety issues of its clients. For the Milwaukee Women’s Center, it provided those within its care easy access to comprehensive wraparound services and programs that address their basic needs, such as assistance with housing and energy assistance, protective payee services, case management, and much more.

Through the Milwaukee Women’s Center, generations of girls and women have achieved safety, health, and wellness—all while developing to their fullest potential. Each day we honor the resilience and strength of women who face challenges—and rise to them.

2023 MWC Accomplishments

• 775 callers were provided telephone crisis intervention services (414-671-6140) to ensure immediate safety, short-term emotional support, assistance with shelter, legal information and advocacy, referrals for medical treatment, and ongoing counseling and group support.
• 130 adults and 140 children received emergency transportation, safe housing, support, and comprehensive domestic violence services through the Milwaukee Women’s Center Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter.
• 68 low-income women and men and 123 children experiencing homelessness received shelter and assistance through the Family Support Center Emergency Shelter for families.
• The Older Abused Women's Program provided support, advocacy, and personalized services to 124 women aged 50 and older who were abused physically, emotionally, and/or financially by their spouses, partners, adult children, or older grandchildren.
• 118 men learned how to become better dads and role models through their enrollment in the FIRE Program.
• 251 men participated in batterers’ prevention and intervention education.
• 37 women received intensive, outpatient treatment through the POWER Program to overcome substance use disorders.
• 38 men and women received outpatient substance use disorder treatment through the Family Intervention Program, which provides treatment and support to African American and Latino families.
• The Bottomless Closet provided career-appropriate free clothing to support 196 women and 86 men seeking employment opportunities

If you would like to speak to a Milwaukee Women's Center staff member about your situation, please call our 24-number line at 414-671-6140.