Who We Are

Center of Hope was founded in 1989 shortly after the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence determined that there was a need for emergency shelter and counseling for victims of domestic violence in Maury County. Beginning as a grassroots movement in Columbia, Maury County’s largest city, Center of Hope first came about when the Columbia Business and Professional Women’s Association (BPW) teamed together with the Coalition to bring services to local victims of domestic violence. With the help of local volunteers, the BPW donated their time to establish a shelter facility and provide crisis counseling, information and referrals to battered women. As the demand for services increased and the need for a paid organizer became more and more apparent, Center of Hope quickly grew from a hotline and shelter into a comprehensive agency, expanding its services to provide court advocacy and other advocacy services. Over the years, Center of Hope has continued to progress and build upon its resources to include victims of sexual violence and stalking, as well as male victims. It still stands single handedly as the only agency dedicated to combating domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking in Maury County, its services today ranging from crisis intervention to long-term case management.

Known previously as Hope House, our board changed our name from Hope House to Center of Hope in December 2012. Although our name has changed, our mission, who we help and how we operate remain the same.

Due to the ongoing growing support of other community agencies, local law enforcement, courts, the District Attorney’s Office and other social service agencies, Center of Hope staff and volunteers are able to justly serve victims by guiding them through the trauma they have experienced and onto a path of emotional, mental and often times physical healing. As an advocacy leader for victims of violence and abuse, Center of Hope is always striving to improve upon its services and find better ways to help victims of domestic violence and their families rebuild their lives as survivors. They go above and beyond to help these victims towards a life of justice and peace by facilitating the Maury County Task Force Against Domestic & Sexual Violence and partnering with the local justice system to educate them on how to improve victim safety and offender accountability within our legal system.

Domestic abuse is not a private problem; it’s a community concern and as a non-profit, Center of Hope would not be able to continue to grow its services without the kindness and generosity of the entire community. Every little bit helps and we are so lucky to be backed by the amazing support of the Office of Criminal Justice Programs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the United Way of Maury County, the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence, the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, the Tennessee Bar Foundation, the Baptist Healing Trust along with the generosity of the city and county government, local civic groups, and local businesses, churches and individual members of the community in our efforts to end domestic violence.

Our Mission
Center of Hope is a refuge of peaceful existence providing innovative and compassionate direct advocacy, therapeutic counseling, and residential services to victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking. As a leading resource for system change, Center of Hope’s goal is to provide meaningful and effective support while addressing the attitudes and behaviors which allow violence to continue in our community. Our comprehensive program ensures that the needs of the victims we serve are met in a holistic and compassionate manner by equipping and empowering them with the skills they need to move beyond the trauma and onto the fulfilling lives they deserve.

Who We Help
Violence and abuse doesn’t have one face, it can affect anyone, regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, location or background. The next time you find yourself in a room full of strangers, think about this:

• 1 in 4 women experience violence from their partners in their lifetimes.

• 1 in 3 teens experience sexual or physical abuse or threats from a boyfriend or girlfriend in one year.

• 1 in 6 women are survivors of sexual assault.

• 1 in 5 men have experienced some form of sexual victimization in their lives.

• 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men were sexually abused before the age of 18.

These are not just numbers and statistics. These are mothers, fathers, girlfriends, brothers, sisters, children, co-workers and friends. You might not even know or suspect it but it could be the person you sit next to everyday on the bus ride to school or work, the people in your volunteer group, your boss, your best friend and confidant or even your child. Victims are everywhere and they are most often times silent. It’s our job to stand up, speak out and put an end to their shame and hurt for good. Take a stand. Break the silence. End the Cycle.