About ALIVE

ALIVE’s Mission

ALIVE’s mission is to provide counseling, emergency sanctuary and other critical services to adults and children impacted by domestic abuse, as well as to increase awareness in order to create a supportive community.

ALIVE’s Vision

ALIVE’s vision is to end domestic abuse, restoring safety and peace one family at a time.

ALIVE’s History

ALIVE (Alternatives to Living in Violent Environments) was founded in 1983 through the shared vision of two women students from Washington University who worked as advocates for abused women. Aware of the critical need for safe shelter for women and children victimized by domestic violence (DV) in St. Louis, they decided to fill the existing void in services. ALIVE’s humble beginnings took place in two rooms donated by a local church. Two volunteer co-directors conducted ALIVE’s initial efforts, and six safe home providers shared their homes with abused women and their children when safe shelter options were unavailable. In addition to offering the temporary shelter program, ALIVE hosted four weekly support groups.

ALIVE was incorporated in 1985 and over the years has expanded into a full-service DV services agency. The Nights of Safety program remains true to our founders’ original vision of providing emergency sanctuary when traditional DV shelters are full or cannot meet victim needs.. ALIVE’s services specifically supporting DV survivors include:

  • a 24-hour crisis line.
  • emergency transportation for DV survivors in immediate danger.
  • individual and group adult counseling.
  • a children’s treatment program.
  • court advocacy.
  • community education and outreach.

ALIVE’s staff has grown to a team of nearly 40 professionals staffing our two offices, one in the St. Louis area and the other in Franklin County. The operational volunteer corps that started with eight women now number¢› over 100 strong.

ALIVE’s Statistics

During Fiscal Year 2025/26, ALIVE provided services to adults and children by:

  • answering 13,258 calls to ALIVE’s 24-hour crisis line.
  • furnishing emergency shelter for 382 domestic violence survivors and their 316 children, totaling 2,774 Nights of Safety.
  • assisting 78 clients with 97 court actions, providing 198 hours of advocacy.
  • providing 3,319 hours of individual adult counseling services to 323 clients.
  • providing 1,609 hours of children’s services to 105 children.

We accomplished all of this with the help of our dedicated volunteers, who provide thousands of hours of volunteer service each year!