When 5–year-old Luis arrived at Hubbard House with his mother, he struggled to express his emotions in safe ways. Sometimes that meant throwing his toys or acting out in frustration.
Luis’ story is not unique. He was one of an estimated 3.3 to 10 million children in the U.S. who are exposed to adult domestic violence each year, according to the Research Center on Domestic Violence.
At Hubbard House, Luis and his mother found the support they needed. Staff worked with Luis daily to help him process his emotions and show him positive coping strategies. Today, he lights up every room he enters with his big, beautiful smile.
Transformations like this don’t happen by chance. They are made possible through the strength of community support. In 2024, the VyStar Foundation funded Hubbard House’s Children Services Program, which offers counseling, educational support, case management and more. Each year, the program helps more than 400 children and teens each year heal from the trauma of domestic violence.
“With Hubbard House, a survivor of domestic violence doesn’t have to choose between the safety of shelter and the support of their children. They can have both,” said Dr. Gail Patin, CEO of Hubbard House. “Thanks to VyStar Foundation’s support, we’re able to provide shelter and comprehensive services for children, giving parents the peace of mind that kids are safe so they can begin the healing together.”
A Lifeline of Support
Every transformation begins with a first step, which is often a call for help. Every day, calls come into Hubbard House from those seeking safety. Employees listen and support survivors of domestic violence with compassion while also providing resources they need to safely rebuild their lives.
Hubbard House’s mission is to provide safety, empowerment and social change to those survivors and their families in Duval and Baker counties. The organization’s roots go back to the 1970s, when a group of women volunteers saw the need in the community for a rape crisis hotline. They quickly realized many callers were seeking help for domestic violence and needed a safe place to go. Shortly after, volunteers riding their bicycles on Hubbard Street in Jacksonville spotted a house for sale. They purchased it, and in 1976, it opened as Hubbard House, Florida’s first domestic violence shelter.
Today, the organization provides emergency shelter for up to 120 people each night. Survivors are welcomed without judgment and spend an average of seven weeks in shelter, at no cost to them. During that time, staff members connect survivors with resources to help them find permanent, stable housing and to address other needs the survivor may have. The organization also operates a walk-in center on Beach Boulevard, offering safety planning, job support, children’s counseling and more.
Each year, Hubbard House helps nearly 5,000 survivors and their children.
The Challenge of Silence
Survivors of domestic violence often feel like they have nowhere they can turn. They also know the danger that comes with speaking out, if their abusive partner finds out. Abusers convince survivors that silence is the only option. That no one will understand. Hubbard House exists to replace that silence with compassion, resources and support. And with partners like the VyStar Foundation helping to amplify the message, survivors hear a vital truth: You are not alone, and you can be safe.
That voice further resonates in the community. Just last year, Hubbard House staff facilitated more than 260 free education and engagement events to raise awareness of domestic violence and Hubbard House’s life-saving, life-changing shelter and services. These events help the community understand how to help and to use their own voices to advocate for this mission and for survivors.
When survivors are heard – and safe- healing can begin. For them, their children and generations to come.