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HAWC

Helping abused women, children, men, and nonbinary people live free from violence and fear

Header Right

  • Donate Now
  • Home
  • Domestic Violence
    • Is This Relationship Abusive?
    • Types of relationships
    • Myths about domestic violence
    • Why Leaving is Hard
    • Safety Tips
    • Help Someone You Know
    • Additional Resources
  • Services
    • 24-Hour Hotline
    • Advocacy & Education
    • Legal Advocacy
    • Hospital Advocacy
    • Children’s Services
    • Emergency Family Shelter
  • About HAWC
    • Annual Corporate Partnerships
    • Our Mission
    • Leadership Team and Board of Directors
    • Our Funders
    • Celebrating 40 Years
    • Careers
  • Give Help Now
    • Wish List
    • Volunteer
    • Create Change
    • Help Someone You Know
    • Workplace Giving
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Walk for HAWC
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
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Celebrating 40 Years

Through sheer force of will and an immense commitment to the cause, our founders worked tirelessly to help survivors on the North Shore escape their dangerous realities.

You are here: Home / About HAWC / Celebrating 40 Years

When HAWC was founded in 1978, it started as a small group of women who came together to acknowledge the issue of domestic violence and made it a priority to advocate for change. These women made a commitment that what was once considered a “family issue”—something that happened behind closed doors—would be unveiled for what it was: unacceptable abuse. Through sheer force of will and an immense commitment to the cause, our founders worked tirelessly to help survivors on the North Shore escape their dangerous reality so that they may heal.

Today, HAWC continues that tradition as we celebrate our 40th anniversary as the domestic violence agency on the North Shore. Our programs have grown from a 24-hour hotline and safe house to so much more, including community-based advocacy and education, comprehensive and free Legal Services, community outreach, Children’s Services, support groups and others. And of course, we have our Emergency Shelter for those needing to flee to a safe location, and our hotline remains an ever-present listening ear.

Community matters

We’ve grown tremendously over the past 40 years because we have built a history of working with our community and program partners to ensure that survivors who come to us for help have access to the full range of assistance that is available to them.

We’ve grown tremendously over the past 40 years. But just like how domestic violence is more than a “family issue” and has an impact on all aspects of our community—including healthcare, economy, education, law enforcement, and more—HAWC has not been a fierce advocate for change all on our own. We have built a 40-year history of working with our community and program partners to ensure survivors who come to us for help have access to the full range of assistance that is available to them.

It is with that in mind that we look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary milestone with gratitude in our hearts. We keep working, every day, to end abuse in our community and will do so as each decade passes until all survivors are safe.

Thank you for 40 years of working for change—together.

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HAWC Locations

HAWC serves 23 cities on Massachusetts’ North Shore from the five central locations listed below.

  • Salem, MA 978-744-8552
  • Gloucester, MA 978-283-8642
  • Lynn, MA 781-592-9900
  • North Shore Medical Center 978-354-4383
  • For 24-hour support, call our hotline at: 1-800-547-1649
  • Para apoyo llama nuestra linea de 24 horas a 1-800-547-1649.

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