About WHBW

OUR PROMISE: To respect, empower and inform.

OUR VISION: To end physical, sexual, emotional and economic abuse and to promote cultural systems that foster justice, equity and safety.

OUR MISSION: To support, identify options and advocate for those who have experienced domestic violence and serve as a catalyst for social change.

ABOUT US: Formed in 1974, WHBW has evolved into the largest service provider for battered women in Vermont. In addition to providing emergency shelter and housing advocacy, WHBW offers 24-hour hotline services, legal advocacy, programs for children and many educational outreach programs. We believe that all women and children have the right to live without fear of battering - sexual, physical, emotional, or financial.

OUR VALUES: Our core values and beliefs are integral to all that we do.

• We value justice. We recognize that domestic violence is rooted in oppression and that all forms of oppression are interconnected. Therefore, in our struggle to end domestic violence we work to change institutions that covertly support the abuse of power between individuals and groups of people.
• We value equality. We support the equitable distribution of power and privilege throughout society.
• We value equitable distribution of resources. We recognize that poverty and lack of resources are major barriers to safety and autonomy, and therefore work to improve the economic opportunities available to women, children and other disenfranchised people.
• We value gender equality. We recognize that gender oppression is a root cause of domestic violence and work towards the eradication of misogyny and sexism.
• We value self-determination. We work to expand the choices available to individuals who have experienced domestic violence, including religious freedom, reproductive choice, and sexual orientation and gender identity.
• We value safety. We work with our communities to protect the emotional, sexual, and physical safety of individuals who have experienced domestic violence and to hold perpetrators responsible for their actions.
• We value the varied perspectives of individuals who have been abused. We establish mechanisms to gather and incorporate input from these individuals so that their perspectives guide our work.
• We value collaboration. We work to involve broad segments of our communities in taking a stand against domestic violence. We also link with other movements for social justice.
• We value diversity. We work towards cultural competency and to ensure that access to services and resources are equally accessible to all individuals who have experienced domestic violence.

Committed to Providing Support For Underserved Populations, WHBW:

• Maintains TTY access to the hotline
• Provides accommodations for victims who are deaf and victims with disabilities in shelter
• Provides interpreter services for non-English speaking service-users
• Provides American Sign Language interpreters for deaf victims
• Works collaboratively with Deaf Victim Advocacy Services
• Works collaboratively with SafeSpace
• Participates in ongoing meetings and collaborations with VT Refugee Resettlement Project, VT Law School, VT Legal Aid and immigration attorneys
• Participates in Women as Defendants sub-committee of the DVTF and other efforts to address battered women who become criminal defendants.
• Offers ongoing diversity trainings for staff and volunteers
• Encourages lesbians, women of color and women with disabilities to apply for positions in notices of hire.