HISTORY

Kansas City’s First Domestic Violence Shelter

Newhouse is Kansas City’s first domestic violence shelter.
Founded in 1971, Newhouse is recognized as a state leader in innovative practices and survivor-centric services.

We are forever grateful to Rev. Sharon Garfield and Dortha Mae Olsen for being pioneers for social justice in Kansas City more than 50 years ago. Sharon saw a gap in support services for those facing domestic violence, and Dortha Mae joined her in bringing the idea of Newhouse to life.

Our History

New Vision: New Leadership, Brand & Approach

Newhouse announces Courtney Thomas as President and CEO. A refreshed brand, vision, and mission builds on the Newhouse legacy. Today, Newhouse is a transformative, dynamic, excellent, inclusive, safe & trusted collaborative ecosystem. Join us in our mission >>

Trauma Informed Care

Newhouse helped more than 16,000 individuals recover and heal during 2017. Evidence Based Therapies were offered, and Trauma Informed Care principles directed all our programs. Building on the facility improvements of the two successful New Beginnings Campaigns (raising $4.2 million since 2014) Newhouse completed the most complex Information Technology overhaul…Read More

New Beginnings Campaign

Jim Bogle was succeeded by Vicki Kraft as President and CEO, and Newhouse announced the first New Beginnings Major Gifts Campaign with the goal of raising sufficient funds to meet the facility renovation and upgrade needs with work beginning in spring 2016. Campaign funds were devoted to the following priority…Read More

Onsite School Opens

In partnership with the Kansas City, Missouri School District, Newhouse opened the Sharon Garfield on-site K-6 school staffed by a certified specialist in elementary and special education. The school continues to serve as an innovative and highly beneficial safe haven for children suffering the effects of domestic violence—the first on-site…Read More

Interim Leadership

Jim Bogle, a domestic violence survivor, agreed to serve as the new President and CEO for a two-year period. This change in leadership precipitates unprecedented new growth and a new beginning for Newhouse. Efforts focused on renewing and rebuilding sources of financial support, preserving core programming and creating a stronger…Read More

Jackson County Legislature Recognition

Newhouse was formally recognized by the Jackson County Legislature with a Resolution noting its efforts and impact upon the community. Here Newhouse announced it surpassed the 15,000 bednights benchmark in the past year. In the following year, Newhouse would provide over 17,000 bednights to more than 650 adults and children.

New Shelter Growth

Within one year after opening the doors on the new shelter, Newhouse quickly filled to the capacity, meeting this growing need with doubled staff size and a host of new programs. Newhouse and the Mattie Rhodes Center began a collaboration to provide cultural training and translation services.

Sheltering 30 women & children

With major renovations completed on the four-bedroom house, Newhouse was able to shelter up to 30 women and children per night, with many of the children sleeping together or with their parent. Newhouse added outreach case management, the Bridge Project (in partnership with Truman Medical Center), and the PRYDE program…Read More

$1.5 Million Capital Campaign

To address the growing need for safe shelter for domestic violence victims, Newhouse conducted a $1.5 million capital campaign to purchase a former nursing student dormitory. About 300 people, most of them donors to the campaign, attended the dedication ceremony. This newly remodeled space accommodated nearly three times as many…Read More

House with the wrap-around porch

With the aid of generous donors, Newhouse moved to a slightly larger four-bedroom house with a wrap-around porch. As the city exploded in population, the jobs became scarcer and drug abuse was reaching an all-time high. The past decade of women’s rights movement lead to stronger laws protecting female victims…Read More